WALT KAVANAUGH

Class of 1940
​Inducted in 1988

Walt was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 1988.

Walt was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame in 1988.  He attended St. Bridget’s grade school, and received his BS in Journalism from Creighton University in 1947.  His college education was interrupted by serving three years in the military until the war ended.  Walt was a radio broadcaster for many years at KFAB – one of the top radio stations across the country.  He declined offers to relocate to New York and Philadelphia and to work in television as he wanted to raise his children in Omaha.  He received journalism awards from both CU and UNO.  The American Women in Radio and Television named him the Best Radio News Personality, and Best Radio News Manager and Reporter in 1981.  He was involved in numerous public relations activities for the radio station, but fondly recalled serving on a Omaha Human Relations Department committee which focused on using the media to improve race relations.

His comments regarding graduating from SHS included the quality education he received in his college preparatory courses.  Also South Omaha in the 1930s included representatives of all races and ethnic groups except Asians.  From that he learned that people aren’t that different from one another, which (in addition to the book lessons) helped him out a great deal.

Walt’s father was a SO attorney, his mother taught (mostly at SHS) for 40 years, and his Uncle “Zip” Lowry was prominent in SHS athletics for decades.