Metcalfe, Edwin

Edwin C. Metcalfe was a saxophonist, broadcaster, and business leader who transformed WPTA-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana, into the region’s top-rated news station. A former professional musician, he played with Spike Jones and his City Slickers before transitioning to television in the 1950s. As general manager of WPTA from 1974 to 1989, he revitalized the station and lead it to its first place in local news ratings.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1918, Metcalfe began performing as a singer on local radio at age 10. He became an accomplished woodwind player, performing with dance bands before joining Spike Jones in the 1940s. His musical career, which included over 130 performances annually, ended in 1950 when he chose to be closer to his wife, Margaret “Tootie” Metcalfe, and their two children. Shifting to television, he started in sales at a Los Angeles station and later held positions in New York, Detroit, and Denver before arriving in Fort Wayne in 1974.

Metcalfe’s leadership at WPTA reshaped local news broadcasting in Fort Wayne. He created a generous budget for the station, turning it from last place in ratings into the most-watched news source in the area. His impact extended beyond television, as he took on leadership roles in various organizations. He served as chairman of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, president of the Anthony Wayne Council of the Boy Scouts, and a board member for Fort Wayne Public Television and the Indiana Institute of Technology. He also presided over the Indiana Broadcasters Association and the ABC Board of Affiliates.

Metcalfe retired in 1989 and later moved to Arizona, where he lived with his second wife, Betty. He passed away on October 22, 2014, at the age of 96.

March 2025

Katherine Maners

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers