John and I were well acquainted during his active years in the business. He was News Director for KVEN/1450 and KHAY/100.7 in my hometown market of Oxnard-Ventura CA during part of my years of programming KAAP/1400 & 96.7 in the same market.
He later moved to L.A. when a field reporter position opened up at KFWB/980, and as I eventually moved down here as well, we became reacquainted from running into each other at various events. As noted in the obit, he later became an anchor there before retiring over a decade ago.
"Widely respected" is an understatement. John was a great broadcast journalist and refused to compromise his principles by "slanting" the focus of his reports with his own opinions. In fact, for a long time I did not even know what his political leanings were!
RIP, John, and thanks for all the years of honest reporting.
