Tom Carnegie

Who was Tom Carnegie?

Tom Carnegie, was the public address announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1946 to 2006. His signature calls while at IMS were "He's on it" and "It's a new track record," which were said many times during his tenure. Carnegie died on February 11, 2011 at age 91.

Carnegie's father was a Baptist minister, which led to moving the family during Carnegie's childhood from Connecticut to Waterloo, Iowa, Pontiac, Michigan and finally Kansas City, Missouri. Carnegie graduated from William Jewell College in 1942, a four year liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri, 10 miles northeast of Kansas City. Carnegie was afflicted with a 'polio type' illness while in college during his junior year which led to partial paralysis in his leg. Before being afflicted, Carnegie played on his college baseball team.

The illness led to his entering into extemporaneous speech and debate competitions, and was quickly a star debater. During one such competition he entered a sports radio contest, which he won.

Upon graduation, Carnegie took his first radio job with WOWO radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana, before taking a job in Indianapolis, Indiana. While in Fort Wayne, Carnegie broadcast Fort Wayne Pistons games. While living in Waterloo, Iowa, Carnegie would listen to radio broadcasts of a young Ronald Reagan and credits Reagan with being one of his main broadcasting inspirations and influences.