Roger Awsumb, host of Channel 11's 'Casey Jones,' dies

Star Tribune ^ | 7/15/02 | Chuck Haga

[NormsRevenge]

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Roger Awsumb, star of the ''Casey Jones'' children's shows on Twin Cities television from the 1950s into the early 70s, died today. He was 74.

Awsumb, who lived on Bass Lake in Merrifield, near Brainerd, had complained of having chest pains and was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Joseph's Medical Center around 5 a.m. He had been in poor health and was recently diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus.

[jlogajan]

Unless you are from the Twin Cities of Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding suburbs) this news article has no meaning.

But I grew up watching Roger as "Casey Jones." Can still sing the daily "Happy Birthday" song ...

[jlogajan]

Happy happy birthday
to all you girls and boys
hope this very special day
brings you lots of toys.
Hope the birthday presents
you get from mom and dad
make this very special day
the best you've ever had.

[rhema]

See Joe Soucheray's (FR-posted) editorial in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press:

It's a long way from Casey to HIV-positive Muppet

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks Rhema. "The Good Old Days". The funny thing is we didn't have a TV on the farm so we didn't know what we were missing. :-) But we still had peanut butter and jelly!