In Memoriam: Ann Wagner Harper, 1924-2016

Ann Wagner Harper, a long-time faculty member at Butler University in Indianapolis and a member of the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame, died on October 13. She was 92 years old.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, she attended the University of Louisville in 1944 on a voice scholarship but left school to begin a career in radio and television broadcasting in Indiana. She was the first woman disc jockey in Indiana and the first woman vocalist for an Indiana television station.

After establishing her career in broadcasting, Harper returned to the academic world to earn a bachelor’s degree in speech in 1963 and a master’s degree in education at speech in 1968 at Butler University. After earning her master’s degree, Harper was asked to join the faculty at Butler as an instructor in radio and television broadcasting. She retired in 1988 as a full professor.