John Williams (born October 19, 1959)
is an American
talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often featur ...
show host at
WGN (AM)
WGN (720 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, with studios on the 18th floor of 303 East Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop. WGN has a news/talk
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues an ...
in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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and previously at
WCCO (AM)
WCCO (830 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios and offices are located on Second Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis. WCCO features a talk radio format, with frequent newscasts a ...
in
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
.
Early life
Williams was born in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, Illinois, as John William Fillipitch.
He attended grade school in different places while his father was in the
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
, but the family moved back to
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet ( ) is a city in Will County, Illinois, Will and Kendall County, Illinois, Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the cit ...
, after his father's retirement from the service.
Williams graduated from
Minooka High School and later from
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College (JJC) is a public community college in Joliet, Illinois. Founded in 1901, it was the first public community college founded in the United States.
In Spring 2014, the college enrolled 16,375 students. Every year, 48,000 stu ...
, where his father was a school counselor. He eventually graduated from
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University (SIU or SIUC) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois. Founded in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. The university enrolls students from all 50 s ...
as a broadcasting major.
Radio career
Williams worked briefly at
WSPY-FM
WSPY-FM (107.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary/full service format. Licensed to Plano, Illinois
Plano is a city near Aurora in Kendall County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 11,847 as of the 2020 cens ...
in
Plano, Illinois
Plano is a city near Aurora in Kendall County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 11,847 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, being about 55 miles (90 km) from Chicago. The city was home to the Plano Har ...
, then spent 10 years at
WMBD (AM)
WMBD (1470 kHz) is the oldest radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It broadcasts a talk radio format and is owned by Duke Wright with the license held by Midwest Communications, Inc. The radio studios and offices are on Fulton Street in Peoria. ...
in
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria ( ) is the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and the largest city on the Illinois River. As of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census, the city had a population of 113,150. It is the principal city of the Peoria ...
.
He also wrote a series of joke books, titled ''The Spieler Scale of Comedy''.
["Former WMBD Radio Personality on CBS"](_blank)
Retrieved 2006-12-28. After four years at WCCO (AM) in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Williams was hired at WGN (AM) in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
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in September 1997.
Timeline
* 1981 —
WSPY-FM
WSPY-FM (107.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary/full service format. Licensed to Plano, Illinois
Plano is a city near Aurora in Kendall County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 11,847 as of the 2020 cens ...
in
Plano, Illinois
Plano is a city near Aurora in Kendall County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 11,847 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, being about 55 miles (90 km) from Chicago. The city was home to the Plano Har ...
* 1981 to 1993 —
WMBD (AM)
WMBD (1470 kHz) is the oldest radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It broadcasts a talk radio format and is owned by Duke Wright with the license held by Midwest Communications, Inc. The radio studios and offices are on Fulton Street in Peoria. ...
, Peoria, Illinois: morning show host and other positions
* 1993 to 1997 —
WCCO (AM)
WCCO (830 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios and offices are located on Second Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis. WCCO features a talk radio format, with frequent newscasts a ...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota: mid-day show host
* September 1997 to December 2008 —
WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: mid-day and afternoon show host
* December 2008 to 2010 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: morning show host, broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
* April 2010 — WCCO 1:00-3:00
* July 2010 WGN — 12:30-3:00
* July 2010 WCCO — 9:00-12:00
* December 2011 — WGN 12:00-3:00
* January 2011 — WCCO 3:00-6:00
Recognitions
*Winner, Personality of the Year: 2001 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards
*Finalist, Personality of the Year: 2006 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards
*Finalist,
NAB Marconi Radio Awards :''"Marconi Award" links here. Note that in the Netherlands, the radio academy awards are also called Marconi Awards.''
The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to the top radio stations and ...
*Winner, Best Afternoon Show on a News, Talk, Personality or Sports Station: 2001 Chicago A.I.R. Awards
*Winner, Best Talent: 2001 Chicago A.I.R. Awards
Life outside radio
Williams enjoys reading, running (including once around the block outside WGN in long underwear to fulfill a pledge), and playing basketball. He is married, has two sons, and his late dachshund named Fred, who he called "The World's Largest Wiener Dog".
See also
*
Steve Cochran (radio host)
Steve Cochran (born March 14, 1961) is an American radio broadcaster. He hosted the morning show at WGN in Chicago from 2013 to December 2019. He previously worked at WGN from 2000 to 2010. He now hosts the podcast "Live from my Office," spons ...
References
External links
WCCO-AM 830, John WilliamsWGN-AM 720, John Williams
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, John
1959 births
Living people
American talk radio hosts
People from Joliet, Illinois
Radio personalities from Chicago
Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumni