Steve Alan Minium was raised in Southern California by his wonderful parents, Helen and Fred. The Great Depression had enticed his parents westward, while much of the family stayed in South Dakota. Steve’s birth was a welcomed surprise late in his parent’s life. His brother Dennis and sister Janet were married and off raising their own children during Steve’s youth, and their children seemed more like siblings to Steve, rather than nieces and nephews. Steve and his family had an unwavering faith in God and spent their time worshiping at Faith Presbyterian Church.

Steve spent much of his young life gallivanting around the country with his parents in their small trailer camping and visiting family. They found many adventures in South Dakota while visiting all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Steve wasted no opportunities. At pit-stops, you could find him running off with a fishing pole. It was at this time he started cataloging favorite spots along his travels. Anyone looking for an A&W Rootbeer Stand should check Steve’s registry for which location is best.

He was an avid journalist from a very young age – a humorous foreshadowing for his adult life. Aside from life events, he kept a ledger of his gambling victories while playing his Uncle Irwin in South Dakota. One account detailed an evening that Steve came upon quite a losing streak. Uncle Irwin had won most of Steve’s vacation money that night. Steve convinced Uncle Irwin to continue playing, and after many hours, he had broken even. Uncle Irwin was quite spent the following day. Steve’s love for gambling continued through adulthood – charmed by craps; a game his brother-in-law Pat Kennedy taught him.

There were so many activities and hobbies to keep him busy during his childhood. Steve’s journaling blossomed into writing and poetry over time. Rock hounding in the Southern California desert was an enjoyed pastime. He dabbled in jewelry making, CB radio communications, camping and fishing. He fearlessly played center on his high school football team. He played the saxophone in the school band, but drumming was his true passion and was sure to have access to a set wherever he settled. Even through adulthood, Steve continued honing his drumming talents. He believed that a loud rock and roll jam session and a good bourbon was the next best thing to being Mick Fleetwood himself.

Steve met the love of his life, Renee, as a teen and married her in 1971. Happily, the families of the high school sweethearts already knew one another. The households quickly became one large family unit; spending weekends together riding dune buggies and dirt bikes, camping, and off-roading. The pair settled in Hollydale, California. Every story Steve shared of his and Renee’s young life together was filled with a pure love and thankfulness that only a soulmate could describe of his dearest.

Early on in Steve’s lengthy career, he worked at KNBC in Los Angeles as a News Film Courier. He shared stories of his wild escapades, winding his motorcycle through Southern California traffic, in hopes that he deliver the accompanying news film, back to the station in time for airing. During this time, he completed his degree in Broadcasting at California State University at Los Angeles. Capitalizing on his superior writing talents, he advanced in his career into vacation relief news writer for KNBC. Later, he advanced to a producer at KOOL tv in Phoenix, Arizona.

It was in Phoenix that Steve and Renee became parents. In 1984, they welcomed their son David into the world – an event that would forever bring a joy and satisfaction for Steve and Renee that they never knew possible. He lived for his family; being a father; being a husband; being a family man. He nurtured and provided for his family, watching his only son grow into a thoughtful, loving, responsible man. He basked in his son’s successes and picked him up after his disappointments. Twenty-eight years after he welcomed his son into the world, Steve became a grandfather. In this child, Jack, he found a fellow Civil War buff and American History enthusiast. He always had a captivated audience sharing any of the endless stories and facts of our history. He became a father-in-law to his son’s wife, Marchesa – although he would argue that there was no “in-law” about it, only the natural feeling of a father’s love for a daughter.

Steve and Renee spent more than 20 years keeping a home in a small Colorado community in the Rocky Mountains. In their later years, the pair would spend several months in Colorado, and then return to Kentucky, where their son and his family had settled. In Colorado, they spent a great deal of time with new friends and loved ones made. They camped in the Colorado high country with the dear friends they discovered and the informal family spent countless hours together exploring the wild country and wilderness in their off-road vehicles.

In 2019, Steve and Renee made the decision to permanently migrate back to Kentucky to be nearer to their children and grandson. The pair were adopted by their kid’s neighborhood – becoming a staple of many street fires, cookouts, Halloween nights, and other festivities. Steve insisted the family watch Christmas Vacation after Thanksgiving, and The Polar Express before Christmas. He loved all music and would listen to the complete Handel’s Messiah the day following each Thanksgiving. He loved his traditions and he loved sharing his joys with us all.

In his final months, Steve stayed tough. His spirit stayed bright and strong all along the way. His final days were filled will love and support, family and affections. He passed peacefully in his sleep during the wee hours of the morning, surrounded by those that loved him dearly.

Career Development:
Courier KNBC Los Angeles, California
Producer Kool TV Phoenix, Arizona
Producer KTNV Las Vegas, Nevada
News Director WBRC, Birmingham, Alabama
News Director, WKRC, Clear Channel Television,Cincinnati, Ohio
VP News and later SVP News and Marketing for Clear Channel Television
Executive Director of News, New Media and Marketing KPSP-TV, Palm Springs, CA
Director of Special Projects and Recruitment for Broadcast Image

Interests:
Executive Board for the Cincinnati Wine Festival
Cincinnati and Palm Spring Crime Stoppers Boards
Anything Apple (iPhone / iPad / Apple Watch)
Golf
Cast iron
Skiing
History
Geology
Traveling
Camping
Offroading
Harley-Davison motorcycles
Whatever his grandson was doing