JOHNSTON COUNTY – Carl Edward Lamm, known affectionately as the “Voice of Eastern North Carolina,” passed away Thursday, August 15 at the age of 97 in Smithfield, North Carolina. Mr. Lamm leaves behind an enduring legacy in the radio industry and an indelible impact on the people of Johnston County.
Retiring in 2019, after 72 consecutive years on the air, Mr. Lamm held the distinction of being one of the longest-serving broadcasters in the nation. He became a mainstay on the AM and FM dials owning and operating WMPM and WTSB radio stations, respectively. His warm interview style and unique tastes in bluegrass, gospel, and talk radio earned him a coveted spot in the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Born in 1927 in Spring Hope, North Carolina, Mr. Lamm served his Country for two years in the Naval Reserves near the end of World War II. He returned home in 1946 to complete his high school degree and subsequently enrolled in the National Academy of Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. His love for radio and dedication to the craft quickly earned him a position at WCEC in Rocky Mount, North Carolina followed by a role at WCKB in Dunn, North Carolina. In 1958, he became the owner of WMPM Radio in Smithfield and began a lifelong commitment to radio and to the people of Johnston County. In 2007, Carl and his son, Mickey, purchased WTSB Radio. Carl remained on the airwaves of WTSB until his retirement in March 2019.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Lamm was known for his connection to his local audience with coverage of the county tobacco markets and long-running programs like “Carl and Friends”. He enjoyed playing a wide variety of bluegrass and gospel music, often taking requests from his long-time listeners. The bond with his listeners extended beyond the AM airwaves in Johnston County, as he conducted countless interviews with celebrities, professional athletes, famous musicians, and well-known politicians. Most notably, Mr. Lamm became acquaintances with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford while traveling to interview the New York Yankees’ teams of the 1960s. He also interviewed Hank Williams and Kitty Wells at the Grand Ol’ Opry and hosted many U.S. Congressmen and Senators in his Smithfield studio.
Mr. Lamm was recognized for his contributions to the field of broadcasting during his induction into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Lamm remained a devoted servant of Christ, considering his 48-year tenure as a Sunday School teacher at Beulah Hill Christian Church in Four Oaks, North Carolina and First Baptist Church in Smithfield among his greatest achievements.
Mr. Lamm’s commitment to community extended far beyond the airwaves. He was instrumental in establishing the annual “Rotary Radio Day” in 1971, which raised thousands of dollars for many of the Smithfield Rotary Club’s community projects. He also donated countless hours in free advertising to local nonprofit organizations and churches, which helped amplify their messages and services to the residents that needed it the most.
Mr. Lamm’s life was characterized by his love for Christ, his family, and the people of Johnston County. He spent much of his life on the air, capturing the comings and goings of his community, while giving hope to numerous listeners dealing with a wide variety of hardships. He was a beacon and an inspiration to many of his peers and his audience.
He is survived by his three children, Travis Lamm (wife Barbara), Lynda Carroll (husband Mike), and Mickey Lamm (wife Anita); seven grandchildren, Mary Beth Thompson, Hannah Carroll, Emily Johnson, Adam Carroll, Andrew Carroll, Christian Lamm, Grace Ann Hurst and one step-grandchild Robyn Strickland. Mr. Lamm is preceded by his adoring wife Marjorie Lamm.
Link: Funeral Arrangements For Carl Lamm
“Mr. Carl was a fine man and a great friend. He was a radio broadcasting legend. I will always cherish our many conversations over the past 25 years. We talked about the radio business, family, friendship, local government, baseball, and most importantly our faith. I will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
- Rick Hester, Johnston County Manager
“Mr. Carl was the Granddaddy I never had. I called him one day to introduce myself and asked if I could come on his talk show and share with his listeners about fraud and scams of seniors. After the radio show or actually while I was still doing the show, he was motioning to me, I had to come back. Five years later, I was still coming back every week to broadcast the Carl and Donna Show. We became a resource for seniors and for law enforcement in Johnston County and 24 other eastern North Carolina counties. Mr. Carl was my friend, advisor, historian, sportscaster,encyclopedia, a giant of a talented humble man, and my political advisor.
I would never leave his presence and not feel blessed that our paths had crossed.
I will always be indebted to his memory because he made me feel like I could do or be anything I wanted to do or be. His legacy will be left by a sign sponsored by Rep. Donna M. White, Reps. Larry Strickland, Howard Penny, and Senator Benton Sawrey on Interstate 95 for four miles aligned and parallel to his WTSB Radio Station on Hwy. 301. I am so glad I got to share the good news of the marker on 95 with Mr. Carl while he was still here.
Mr. Carl, we love you, we’ll miss you, but thanks for sharing yourself through the golden mic on the golden airways of WTSB, to make our lives….pure gold.”
- Rep. Donna McDowell White
“I got to know Mr. Carl Lamm as a young boy, listening to him on the radio. When I ran for Sheriff in 1998, Mr. Carl and I became close friends. He reminded me of my dad, and was a mentor to me in my early years as Sheriff.
Mr. Carl was a Christian man in his daily walk, and that was evident if you were around him. Mr. Carl had a passion and love for people. He loved America, Johnston County, and our tobacco heritage. Mr. Carl was a radio legend, and a dedicated servant of the people through his passion for his calling to provide the news to Johnston County. We should strive to live our lives like Mr. Carl. Well done, good and faithful servant!”
- Steve Bizzell, Johnston County Sheriff
“Carl is an iconic figure in North Carolina, indeed, in our country. I remember listening to him on the radio as a young boy and thinking I would like to grow up and be like Carl. His contributions to the broadcast industry and to our state are enormous, and for that he has been recognized by his fellow broadcasters with its highest honor by induction into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall Of Fame. Our state, our nation has lost a truly great American with Carl’s passing.”
- Wade Hargrove. retired media attorney and treasurer/trustee of the NC Broadcast History Museum
I am honored to write about Carl Lamm, a man I have known and respected for many years. He was the definition of an optimist who loved life and all the people he came in touch with. His role as the tobacco market sales supervisor suited him because he got a chance to talk with farmers as well as buyers. I know he is in heaven and I also think he went directly there. The Lord needed a fresh face to entertain all the prophets and Carl could do the job.
- Leo Daughtry, former NC House Majority Leader and State Senator
Carl Lamm loved Johnston County, and Johnston County loved Carl Lamm. For years, his AM radio station dominated the airwaves of this county, beating out the bigger FM stations and their more powerful signals. He was our Walter Cronkite. If Carl Lamn said it, then that’s the way it was. I think he knew more about Johnston County politics, country music, and baseball than anyone I’ve ever met.
Carl Lamm was a man of deep faith, devoted to his family. He possessed a kind heart, a gentle disposition, and a soothing voice. He was the consummate radio personality, in large part because he was so authentic. When he asked about your family, he wasn’t just making idle conversation; he genuinely cared.
I well remember the first time I met Mr. Carl, as I always called him. It was early in 1990, during my first campaign for district attorney. I dropped by WMPM to introduce myself because that’s what then-Clerk of Court Will Crocker said I should do. Mr. Carl shook my hand and immediately invited me into the studio to talk with him on the air. I was scared to death because I had never been interviewed on live radio, but his folksy manner soon put me quite at ease.
That’s the effect Carl Lamm had on people. He was a friend to everyone. To call Carl Lamm a Johnston County legend is a gross understatement. With his passing, the people of this county have suffered a monumental loss.
- Thomas H. Lock, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, Johnston County
Mr. Carl Lamm is one of the most godly and honorable men I have ever had the privilege of knowing. In looking back, I believe my first interview with Carl was on March 30, 2015. I was on his radio station at least twice a month until he retired. But that did not end our relationship. Carl continued to reach out to me and my wife almost weekly, and we always felt blessed when he would call to just check on us and pray for us. Carl had a heart for being a servant of the Lord and for Israel. We always had lively and godly conversations on air.
One of my most memorable moments with Carl came after the passing of his precious wife. On air, it was obvious Carl was hurting very deeply, and he asked me some questions and allowed me to minister the peace and love of our Lord to him and to his audience. He told me later that our conversation brought healing to his heart and soul and helped him to continue on the path God had for him. I was honored to be used by the Lord to minister to my brother, Carl, at such an intimate time in his life.
My wife and I will miss our weekly phone calls, but we celebrate Carl’s new home in Paradise with the Father.
- Carl Gallups, Pastor
Mr. Carl Lamm called me in 2012, shortly after I went to Coast To Coast AM as the regular Saturday night host. He invited me to come on the air with him during “Carl Lamm and Friends”, broadcast out of Smithfield NC. After that first call, we spoke almost every week for over a decade.
I will always remember him as a real friend and supporter. And to have a man like that, with his over seventy years of continuous broadcasting, offer advice when I asked for it, encouragement always, and assurances that through his Faith that all is well, he is one of my most treasured friends. He will not be forgotten, because he will be missed so much.
May his faith in the LORD, and the faith he imbued in his family and friends, be a comfort to them all.
Thanks for everything, Carl.
May our Father in Heaven grant you and your loved ones the Peace of the LORD.
- John B. Wells, National Radio Host
The golden microphone of local radio legend Carl Lamm will shine a bit dimmer today, as Johnston County mourns the passing of this beloved figure. Lamm’s deep Christian faith, profound knowledge of local history, sports, and country music, kept listeners tuned in to his radio station for decades. Many residents fondly recall their parents and grandparents turning the dial to hear Lamm’s daily broadcasts, which kept the community informed and entertained.
It is a truly sad day for Johnston County and all of North Carolina. I will personally miss our weekly meals at Bojangles and the great conversations we shared. I will treasure the many memories of Mr. Carl, and keep his family in my thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks ahead.
- Craig Olive, Johnston County Register of Deeds
Carl Lamm was like a brother, friend, mentor, and father to me. He always loved and encouraged me in my career as a talk show host. He’d say I reminded him of radio hosts from the old days. He himself was from the old school, and shared that wisdom in a fun but serious way to people who never would have known those lessons.
He played my show on his station, frequently interviewed me on his program, and even flew me out from Los Angeles to speak there in North Carolina. Color never got between us. He would always end every conversation with: “You are a true American, Jesse Lee!”
Even when going through tough times himself, he would always call to check on me, and say he was praying for me. I can honestly say he will be missed. May his soul rest in peace.
- Jesse Lee Peterson, Host of The Jesse Lee Peterson Show, Founder of BOND
Carl Lamm was one of the finest men God put on this earth and he was true to his God. I spent 60 years in broadcasting all over the country and I know great talent when I hear it. Carl was genuine and listeners could tell it. More than that was the man’s character. Carl was a true friend.
Some of my greatest memories involve my time spent working with Carl on his radio program. We shared conservative views.
I will miss my dear friend Carl. The airways have fallen silent but the memories of his listeners will be everlasting. RIP my friend.
- Tom Joyner, Owner Joyner Radio Inc.
I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Carl several times at Bojangles in Selma for breakfast. He always gave time to talk to us listeners, I will forever cherish those moments.