He was there from the very beginning.

Robert Zimmerman, a member of Penn State's first student radio station (WDFM) and an adviser to The Lion 90.7 FM., died Monday from an allergic reaction to medication.

Zimmerman was a 1958 Penn State graduate who returned to work and mentor as a communications professor and adviser for The Lion.

"He was a huge asset and ally to student radio," said Andy Nagypal, a former member of The Lion.

As a student DJ, Zimmerman was already making sure that the student radio station was interesting.

"They used to have to play classical music but they were allowed to take requests," Nagypal said. "He got around the rules by asking a friend to call in and request Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog."

Zimmerman earned a degree in journalism from Penn State and then started a career in radio, eventually owning more than 10 radio stations.

Zimmerman's success enabled him and his wife to donate about $295,000 to Penn State to benefit initiatives in the College of Communications, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, and Penn State athletics, according to www.giveto.psu.edu.

"He was a self-made rags to riches story," Nagypal said.

Zimmerman also acted as the president of the Student Radio Alumni Interest Group and was able to use his clout to help the station.

"He helped us out in sticky situations with administration," said Brandon Peach, The Lion's president. "We would send Bob Zimmerman down to the Office of Student Affairs and immediately we'd start getting more information."

Students also called Zimmerman a great teacher.

He taught students things about the actual nuts and bolts of how things work in the real world, said Mike Walsh, a former officer for The Lion.

"It wasn't boring or scary, it was inspirational," Walsh said. "His class was really the only one I remember. I miss him as a friend, I miss him as a guy who could do all that he did, I miss him as a guy who I just like being around.

Zimmerman is survived by his wife, Jane, and his son, Andrew.

The Lion will remember Zimmerman in a broadcast at 5 p.m. Friday.