Video bio of Tom Carnegie, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2007.
Producer: Paul Lennon;
Post-Production: DreamVision Media Partners;
Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, as Carl Kenagy, he moved with his family to Missouri, where his interest in sports shifted to announcing after he was stricken with polio. His radio career began in 1942 at WOWO-AM/FM in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he took the name Tom Carnegie. Three years later, Carnegie moved to Indianapolis and became sports director at WIRE-AM. While there he met Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman, who hired Carnegie as the announcer for the track’s public system. Carnegie eventually became one of the track’s most recognized icons as he called out his familiar “Heeeeez-on-it!” at the beginning of each qualifying run. He later moved to WFBM-FM/TV (now WRTV-TV) as a sportscaster and remained there for three decades. He retired from WRTV-TV in 1985 but continued working at the Speedway until 2006. Carnegie died Feb. 11, 2011.
--Words from the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers