INDIANAPOLIS — Lou Palmer, whose rich, stirring voice was heard over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for more than 30 years, died Jan. 19 in Indianapolis. He was 75.
Palmer was the network’s chief announcer in 1988 and 1989.
Born Louis A. Perunko, Jr., in 1932 in Wheeling, W.Va., Palmer was raised in Syracuse, N.Y. He had been an Indianapolis resident almost continuously since 1953.
Palmer first appeared on the IMS Radio Network in 1958 at the invitation of then-chief announcer Sid Collins shortly after Palmer had joined the news department at radio station WIBC. He was assigned to turn three for his first race because “nothing ever happens over there.”
Contrarily, a massive, multi-car accident played out in front of him on the very first lap, all but blocking the track as the popular Pat O’Connor sustained fatal injuries, and rookie Jerry Unser completely cleared the outer wall, sustaining a dislocated shoulder just yards away.
Palmer’s masterful call of that accident has been heard in several retrospectives on the Indianapolis 500 over the years.
Palmer’s first wife, Cal, died in 1997. Survivors include his second wife, Beverly; son, Al Perunko; and daughter, Laura Scott.