R.I.P.: Longtime Duluth Radio Personality Pat Cadigan

Pat Cadigan

Longtime Duluth radio personality Pat Cadigan has died.

"He was a real legend in this community, and he was greatly loved," said Shawn Skramstad, vice president and market manager for Midwest Communications in Duluth, which owns KDAL, where Cadigan was a fixture on the air for decades.

Cadigan died Monday morning after a short illness, Midwest Communications reported in a news release, citing family members. He was 81, according to the News-Tribune.

Cadigan was best known for hosting the radio station's morning show with Rik Jordan from 1982 until Jordan's retirement 26 years later. He continued in the morning show with various co-hosts until his death.

He also hosted the Saturday morning "Midwest Polka Party" for several years and performed for 13 years with the Chmielewski Fun Time Orchestra.

"Pat the Cat" was one of the first disc jockeys to play rock and roll in the area and was listened to by a young Bob Dylan who mentioned him in his book.