John Zichterman:
CLASS OF 1979
Carl Sandburg High SchoolClass of 1979
Orland park, IL
John's Story
Life
After high school, I left the midwest to chase down a dream - and a wife. July 3, 1982: I married Debbie Bacci in Los Alamos, NM. December 12, 1982: I started a 20-year career in small-market radio (see Workplace Bio). July 23, 1984: Our daughter Jennifer was born. November 1985: Move to Tri-Cities, WA. November 1987: Move to Klamath Falls, OR. September 4, 2004: Daughter Jenifer married Klamath Falls native Nathan (he's a good guy).
School
High school memories include: the Homeroom Show (1977-1979), Radio Speaking with math teacher James Danis, spending hours 2 thru 7 in the A/V Lab during my senior year. And, of course, my small circle of friends.
College
Right after high school, I went to Moraine Valley Community College. I got bored about three weeks in and haven't returned to any form of higher education since.
Workplace
Radio...
Santa Fe, NM: Start radio career at KNYN-FM (freeform, then country). Also worked at KVSF-AM (pop), KTRC-AM (standards) and KAFE-AM (oldies). Did camerawork and directing at KCHF-TV.
Tri-Cities, WA: KORD-AM (country), KSSK-FM (pop) and KEYW-FM (soft rock).
Spokane, WA: KEYF-FM (soft rock).
Klamath Falls, OR: KAGO-AM (pop), KLAD-FM (country), KKRB-FM (pop), and KCHQ-FM (oldies). I ended my 20 years in radio at KAGO-FM (classic rock) when a Seattle corporation bought the radio station and fired all the employees. Corporations have destro...Expand for more
yed local radio!
After Radio...
Klamath Falls, OR: For 8 years, I produced commercials and did camerawork for "NewsWatch" on KDKF-TV (ABC). For 4 years, I provided "help desk" customer service for Adobe Systems software products. Then I made TV and Radio commercials, industrial videos and print ads at a local advertising agency (interestingly, using Adobe products). Now I design print ads for the Herald and News, our local paper. I also do freelance graphic design and voice work through my own Zack Productions (see jdzack-dot-com).
Hobbies
I love TV. My two main hobbies are collecting TV Theme Songs and premiere "pilot" episodes.
Heroes
Barry Hansen (Dr. Demento), James Danis, Kingsley Kelley, Tony Stewart, Ronald Reagan.
Alias
I may have graduated Carl Sandburg High School in 1979 as John Zichterman, but these days I only answer to Zack. I adopted the alias "J.D. Zack" for my first radio job. It stuck with me throughout my radio career, and I've just kept using it. My wife insists the "J.D." stands for John and Debbie. In reality, I had to come up with the name quickly during a phone call with my program director. At the time I was watching "The Dukes of Hazzard." On screen was Boss Hogg ... J.D. Hogg ... Jefferson Davis Hogg. "J.D." stands for Jefferson Davis. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I occasionally comment on life and other things on MySpace (see myspace-dot-com/jdzack).
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions