ST. CLOUD - A longtime radio station owner in the St. Cloud area has passed away.

Al Leighton died this (Thursday) morning.  Leighton was 86 years old.  He owned four stations in town, as well as four stations in Detroit Lakes and Grand Forks.

According the the Pavek Museum of broadcasting, Leighton started his career in 1951 in Brainerd as a news and sports reporter.  In 1958 he became the general manager of a radio station in Detroit Lakes, and eventually became its sole owner.  He is a charter member of the Minnesota Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

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