Wichita ? A man who was known to a generation of Kansans as Major Astro has died from complications after open heart surgery.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Tom Leahy Jr., who had a 60-year career at Wichita radio and television stations, died Friday at the age of 87.

Thousands of Kansas children rushed home from school between 1962 and 1973 to watch Major Astro. He was known for wishing them: “Happy Orbits, boys and girls … Everything will be A-Okay and all systems will be go.” The show aired on KARD, now KSN.

Leahy also was the weekend movie comic horror host with a mute sidekick in the show “The Host and Rodney on KAKE.”

A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Wichita.