She broke the sex barrier in Wisconsin Radio in May 1947 as Womans Director for WLIP Radio. She was for former President of American Women in Radio and Television she was also the first woman nominated and elected to the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. She was awarded the LULU award in 1958 and 1987 for editorial excellence in reporting male fashion news and was featured in Who's Who Among American Women. She was still in broadcasting after 60 years at the time of her death. ∼Irene Buri Nelson of Kenosha passed away following a traffic accident on Friday, July 7th, 2006 at St. Catherine's Medical Center in Kenosha.
Born in Kenosha on March 17, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Phillip and Genevieve (Gary) Buri. She was a lifelong resident of Kenosha and was educated at St. James Elementary School, Washington Jr. High and Mary D. Bradford High School.
She attended Broadcasting School and the Patricia Stevens Charm School and took her first job at the American Brass Company, then joined WLIP radio as Women's Director on its first day of broadcast on Mothers Day in May 1947. She would have celebrated sixty years of broadcasting at WLIP the following year.
She was a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church where she married her husband George Nelson, Jr. in 1952. He preceded her in death in 1992.
Irene was a contributor to several groups and organizations in Kenosha, including the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Humane Society, Animal Rescue groups, the Kenosha Rotary, St. James Church and St. Joseph High School.
She was former President of American Women in Radio and Television. She was also the first woman nominated and elected to the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association Hall of Fame in 1991. She received radio's LULU awards in 1958 and 1987 for editorial excellence in reporting male fashion news, and was featured in "Who's Who Among American Women".
Scouting was also a passion of hers, as her late husband was a former area Boy Scout Council president. In January of 2006 she received an award from the Boy Scouts for her involvement in the community. Six years prior, a local Girl Scout council had bestowed to her the "Be Your Best Award".
Surviving were nieces and nephews Diane O'Dwyer, Larry and Kathy Nelson, Scott and Kathie Nelson, Kevin and Deanna Nelson, Rick and Pat Nelson, Jeff and Terri Nelson, and Judy and Al Kohlmeier; a brother-in-law, Robert (Rose) Nelson; two sisters-in-law, June Nelson and Charlene Nelson; and several great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Genevieve; a brother, Joseph; a great nephew, Dan O'Dwyer; and two brothers-in-law, Richard C. Nelson and David L. Nelson.
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Irene Buri Nelson's smooth radio style proves enduring (by Debbie Metro, Kenosha News, 1989) --------- In a voice as smooth and soothing as your Aunt Sophie's, Irene Buri Nelson delivers fashion and consumer news and interviews with people of local and national interest. Just turn to WLIP-AM 1050 at 11:05 am weekdays to hear her do "Around the Town" or at 7:30 am Sundays to listen to "Something Special". It's a job she's had for 42 years. Nelson is the only one of the original staff left at the radio station which began broadcasting on Mother's Day in 1947. Since then this 5-foot-4 gracious energetic woman met Queen Elizabeth was kissed by Ed Asner and received an award for her work from Michael Nader who portrays Dexter on "Dynasty". She's offered listeners hundreds of tidbits on consumer issues, food, fashion, beauty, travel, current events, and whatever else they want to talk about.
Wearing a lovely tailored suit, she walks past the red lips (WLIP's symbol) couch in the station's lobby and heads for the studio down the hallway. "I like the challenge," she says of her work. "It presents an opportunity to meet many different people in all walks of life. And I work with a talented staff of young people who keep me young at heart." Hats are one of her trademarks; she used to wear them at work but now relegates them to the times she goes out In a business that is fiercely competitive and where some people change jobs as often as they change socks.
Irene Buri Nelson is a survivor. How does she do it? "It's coping with the downs as well as the ups," she says. "It's perseverance. And you have to do your homework. You don't come in and sit down and be brilliant. Even if you feel lousy, you have to be upbeat for listeners," she says. "We want to entertain and inform them and make them feel better. You're only as good as the people on your show. I don't think I've ever met a person I didn't like. Each individual has something special; whether it's baking a cherry pie or being a celebrity, If you dig far enough, you'll find it."
She's survived three management changes at the station. Although a large Milwaukee radio station and several Milwaukee ad agencies offered her jobs, she decided to stay in Kenosha, she says.
Nelson is the only one of the original staff left at radio station WLIP, which began broadcasting on Mother's Day in 1947. Since then the gracious, energetic woman has, among other things, met Queen Elizabeth; was kissed by Ed Asner; and received an award from "Dynasty" star Michael Nader.
She says "I wouldn't like to live anyplace but here." Her husband George, former president of moving and storage firm David Nelson & Son, Inc. is co-founder and on the board of Bane-Nelson, Inc. He's also an organizer of West Kenosha State Bank and on the board of First Bank Southeast.
When WLIP began broadcasting in 1947, the station was in the lower level of the National Bank Building (now First Bank Southeast). Irene Buri was one of two women on the staff. The other was the news director, the late Virginia Taylor. The station expanded to the second floor of the bank building before moving to a new one-floor building at 8500 Green Bay Road about five years ago. As women's editor, Nelson's early radio shows included Kenosha Cooks, Stork Club, Christmas Caravan, and Around Town. "My most rewarding times were when I'd play a tune for a child who was sick or in the hospital. I'd get thank-you notes written in crayon, and tleir mothers would call and say how their child's little face would light up when they heard their name on the radio and a song like 'Purple People Eater' or one by the Chipmunks."
If she wasn't a radio reporter, she'd be a fashion commentator, she says. She attends shows in Chicago and New York. At the Men's Fashion Association Press Week in Rye, NY this June, she gathered news and celebrity interviews for her show. Among those interviewed in previous years-were George Hamilton ("very — down to earth and pleasant"), Jim Palmer ("he's just as nice as he is handsome") and Ed Asner ("he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek when I told him my mother never missed an episode of 'Lou Grant' '') She received radio's LULU awards in 1985 and 1987 for editorial excellence in reporting male fashion news. A special honor award for her significant contribution to the image of women in broadcasting was given to her by the Badger Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. During a AWRT convention in London in April, 1970, members were invited to a Royal Ball in honor of Princess Margaret, and met Queen Elizabeth. "We were told not to talk to the Queen unless she spoke first. "She said a few words to each of the state presidents who were there and remembered something about each of the States. She's a very gracious woman." AWRT members also met Pat Nixon at the White House during a national convention. "She's a charming and wonderful woman. I have a lot of respect for her."
What does she dislike about her job? "The clock. When you're 13 1/2 minutes into a 15-minute interview and know you have a 30-second close, how do you gracefully tell a person there's no more time?"
She shows her guests interview questions before going on the air, she says. "Something Special" is taped Tuesday afternoon for broadcast on Sunday morning — "I never put a person in a position I wouldn't want to be in. I'm friendly, not the type that intimidates people." As a girl playing the lead in several productions at St. James School and Bradford High School, it heightened her interest in communications. John Davies, a speech coach, first suggested she try a career in radio. She worked in the office of the Simmons Co. before trying for the radio job in 1947. For her audition she read wire copy and interviewed a staff member. Station manager Dick Driscoll told her to come to work next week. She took voice lessons at Patricia Stevens in Chicago and attended a professional radio workshop in Milwaukee, where instructor Herman Gottlieb gave her advice she still follows — "Just be natural and use the most common words to express yourself."
What does she think it takes to be a radio reporter other than perseverance? "Have an inquisitive mind. Be an avid reader," she says. She reads five newspapers a day and "every magazine there is. Keep up with current events, Be able to ad-lib and think on your feet. Young people who want to go into broadcasting should ge tan internship if they can and have a second career in mind."
Opportunities for women in broadcasting expanded with the growth of television and cable, but competition is still fierce, she says, "There are more applicants than there are jobs. People see a Jane Pauley or Barbara Walters and decide this is what they want. But these are the million dollar babies. How many jobs are there like that? Very few."
About 10 years ago when her mother became ill she cut her work time to about 23 hours a week. A believer in playing as hard as you work, she and her husband have travelled to Europe and many of the islands, They share their home in Kenosha with their dogs Do-Dah and Tutu, She collects blue baskets, ribbons, unusual gift wrappings, shells, cones, beads, boxes, and weeds. A tall dried flower arrangement in the studio's hallway is her design.
Retirement isn't in her vocabulary yet. She won't give her age except to say it's "49 plus." The station sales manager emerges from a meeting. "We have two new sponsors for your show, Irene." "Well," Nelson says, "I guess I'll have to keep working."