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When Gary Gilbertson is doing a live remote radio broadcast he's surrounded by laughter and lively conversation.

Gilbertson has been the sports director at WVRQ since 1969. He also does advertising sales and the station's on air old-time music show weekdays and Saturdays.

Gilbertson's affable manner and clear, deep radio voice keep many a listener tuning in. Little do those in the audience know that to many who knew him in his youth his radio success is a surprise.

"I always wanted to do radio and when I told people they said, "You'll never make it because you're so quiet,'" Gilbertson said. "I was a really quiet child. I hardly spoke until I was 18."

Gilbertson started his radio career at WVRQ in 1965. After a stint in the military he returned to become the sports director in 1969.

While Gilbertson daily recounts sports scores and previews upcoming games, the bulk of his sports on-air time is spent broadcasting games. He's often teamed on-air with long-time sportscaster Peter Walby.

"When you're busy you can be gone three or four nights a week," Gilbertson said.

Gilbertson keeps up on visiting local folks while making sales calls. He also Broadcasts the old-time music show, which has a lot of loyal listeners.

"Both of my parents were Scandinavian and we listened to a lot of that music when I was growing up," Gilbertson said. "Because I knew this type of music, I basically inherited the show. Now we have a great mix of music and requests. The music is a lot like lutefisk, either you like it or you don't."

Where Gilbertson really shines is when he's on air live out in the public doing a remote broadcast. For some reason it seems like Gilbertson knows everybody in Vernon County.

"I grew up in Coon Valley and Chaseburg and after 30 years in this business stretched who I knew there to extended families all over," Gilbertson said. "Once you meet someone and know how they're connected to a local family it just helps fill in the puzzle."

Gilbertson and his wife, Judy, married in 1971. Their two sons, Andrew and Nic were involved in Viroqua American Legion baseball. Gilbertson became involved in helping raise money and make arrangements for the team. Now he's the point man for a number of different issues -- including Viroqua's date to host the national regional championships next summer.

"Legion baseball is something good for kids and not every community has it," Gilbertson said. "I really got wrapped up in it in the late 1980s and 1990s. Now that I don't have children in it, I'm asked why I keep going. I enjoy following the team. I've always thought it was so important for kids to have that opportunity.

And Gilbertson gives children opportunities in other ways through his work as the organizer for the Legion's Annual Youth Government Day. He began working with the program in 1972.

"It's a way for the kids to see how the system operates," Gilbertson said. "They sit in on intake court for half a day and then visit with four or five county officials to discuss what they do."

Gilbertson is easy to give credit where it's due when it comes to his volunteer work.

"My wife, Judy, has always been a family-oriented person and I couldn't have done the things I've done without her," Gilbertson said. "

In fact, the Gilbertsons love of Legion baseball has led to many family nights at the Park Bowl.

"All of my kids love watching baseball," he said. "My daughters have said, ‘I may get married at the Park Bowl.' From what it was in the 1970s... it's become one of the nicer fields around. We're really fortunate to have that facility."

And Gilbertson plans to be in the press box for some time to come, calling games and putting WVRQ listeners in the seat next to him.