Lance Renaud

Former KFJB radio announcer Lance Renaud passed away Wednesday at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown at the age of 73, his former employer announced on Facebook.

Lanson “Lance” Renaud was a long-time news and sports director at KFJB and KIX 101.1, and the radio voice of Marshalltown High School athletics. Renaud retired from broadcasting in March of 2018 after more than 50 years on the air.

Renaud began broadcasting sporting events while working in college radio in 1965. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970 before working as a sports broadcaster and weekend disc jockey for KBIZ in Ottumwa. He additional on-air sports and weather for KTVO-TV in Kirksville, Mo.

His sports coverage continued with KXOF Radio in Bloomfield, KYOU-TV in Ottumwa and KBOE radio in Oskaloosa. He joined the Marshalltown Broadcasting Inc. team in October of 2000.

In 2004, Renaud was honored with the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Sports Media Award, and in 2009 he received the Sportscaster of the Year award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association.

Upon his retirement in 2018, Renaud said “I’ve always tried to give a network style broadcast, done professionally, trying to be neutral in approach, tried to be the eyes for the fans who couldn’t be at the game, but wanted to cheer on their team. Having played, coached and officiated helped in game preparation and delivery. My hat goes off to all the kids who participate in athletics. Throw the season records out the window, all who take part give their best every practice and every game, they are all winners and I tried to bring that out in each broadcast.

“Without the athletes, coaches, officials and administrators help, and the fans in the stands, the task of sports announcing would have been difficult. It was not a job, but a labor of love.”