Longtime on-air personality and Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Famer Larry ‘Moon’ Thompso died this morning at the age of 65 following a long bout with Multiple Sclerosis.
Thompson co-hosted afternoons with Staci Matthews at Hubbard Hot AC “KS95” 94.5 KSTP-FM Minneapolis from 2002 until stepping down in October 2019 due to increased complications from MS. His passing was noted by his successor, Greg ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson who stated, “I lost my friend, the man that helped make me better, the man that made me laugh so hard. The man that helped me find the words to entertain the Twin Cities and beyond. I am heartbroken to say that we lost Moon. We truly lost and have said one final goodbye to a legend. Staci and I were lucky enough to get the heads up and go visit him just before he left us. I will forever keep those words with me… The last words he said to me was, “Keep killing it, I am your biggest fan”. I promised him I would… Then I looked him right in the eyes with tears forming saying… I love you. And he said it right back without hesitation. At that moment I knew this man once again gave me a gift and feeling of love and gratitude.”
Thompson began his radio career in 1974 at KSID in his native Sidney NE. After stints across the state, he joined KQKQ Omaha where he was rechristened ‘Moondoggie’, a variation of which stuck as his on-air name the remainder of his career. He would next join “Y108” KRKY Denver as evening host where he would spend eight years before stints in mornings at “KS 104” KQKS Denver and 100.5 KMZQ Las Vegas. He would then join Hot AC “Mix 96.5” KHMX Houston in 1994 where he would remain until joining KSTP-FM and is still their longest tenured morning personality. Thompson was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2021.