Dottie Ray loves meeting new people. She also loves coffee.
With 45 years behind the microphone and over 25,000 guests interviewed, Ray has combined her two passions into one of the longest-running radio shows in Iowa.
“It’s just a show where we sit down and have a cup of coffee and talk about the community,” Ray said. “I’ve had a lot of coffee over the years.”
The Dottie Ray Show has been on the airwaves of Iowa City’s AM 800 KXIC since 1959. Not much has changed format-wise from the first show, which featured Susan Hancher, the wife of then current University of Iowa President, Virgil Hancher.
Ray’s main objective is to help community members promote activities and events of interest in Iowa City and the surrounding areas.
Her 15-minute program is broadcast Monday through Friday, at 8:45 AM, and is followed by a dedicated listening audience.
“It allows people to keep their finger on what’s going on in town,” said KXIC Program Director Roy Justis. “Dottie Ray is Iowa City.”
Due to the popularity of her program, Ray’s calendar is usually booked with guests months in advance.
“Dottie’s show is a natural draw for people who want publicity,” Justis said.“More and more people hear about it through the grapevine and want to be a part of it.”
When Ron Clark, the co-artistic director at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City, wanted to promote upcoming shows at his new venue in 1981, Ray was one of the first journalists he contacted.
“We were such an unknown commodity and we knew Dottie had such an established audience,” Clark said. “Out of that grew a genuine relationship.”
Not only does Ray’s program help inform the community about upcoming events and activities, it 
also encourages more people to become actively involved in Iowa City and the surrounding areas.
“Dottie is an on-air cheerleader for those people who volunteer in the community,” said Mike Huber, Board Chair of the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce.
“She has [volunteers] on her show and she tells them what a great job they are doing and it influences more people to become involved.”
Ray’s first experience in radio came when she worked as a news broadcaster for WSUI while attending The University of Iowa. As a student, she also headed the first all-female editorial staff at The Daily Iowan.
After graduating with a degree in journalism and an interest in speech in 1944, Ray continued her education at Iowa, earning her master’s degree in journalism one year later. She also taught journalism courses at the UI before starting The Dottie Ray Show.
Ray has been the recipient of many awards and honors over the years. Most recently, she was named one of the UI’s Alumni Fellows for 2004. This award recognizes College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates for their outstanding contributions to society, their professions and to the UI.
For Ray, all of the awards are appreciated, but she is quick to put them in perspective.
“If you live long enough, over time they will come,” she said.
Since day one, Ray has always broadcast the show from her home, instead of conducting her interviews from the KXIC studios.
For many years, those who tuned in were accustomed to the sound of her dog, Bozo, barking in the background as she talked with her guests.
“It seemed like he always got more Christmas cards from listeners than I did,” Ray said.
As far as being one of the longest running radio shows in Iowa, Ray can’t pinpoint why it has enjoyed so many decades of success.
“I wish I knew,” she said.
“I think it’s appealing because it allows us to think small,” Huber said. “[Iowa City] is becoming a large metropolitan city, and Dottie gives us a small town feel.”
This September, The Dottie Ray Show entered its 45th year of being on the air.
As long as people still want to be guests on the show, Ray will be waiting with a full pot of coffee, ready to talk with them.
“I just love meeting the people,” Ray said. “It’s a lazy way for me to learn something about everything, and not a lot about anything.”
