About the middle of last year I happend to find John Archer on Facebook, this was exciting for me, because he was one of the first radio people I ever knew.
In the (early to mid) 1950's when I was growing up in Williamsport, Pa. you listened to either WRAK or WWPA. WWPA was my parents radio station of choice and I listened intently to the announcers. To be fair WWPA had many good people on the air, but one of the best was John Archer. He had a voice and style that fit the station very well and this young kid, who wanted tobe in radio someday, was impressed.
A chance meeting happened in the summer of 1959 while on a fishing vacation with my father and a friend of his on Little Rideau Lake in Canada at a place called Winters Island. I became friends with two other kids about my age, and that weekend thier father joined them, it was John Archer! Anyway, as I grew older WWPA lost it's appeal, as I was getting into listening to "That damn kid's station WMPT" where I eventually worked and honed a lot of my skills.
I never forgot John, who had left radio and went to work for Alcan Cable, but he still did some political commercials and I would run into him often. His son John III worked for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and i would often see them together at some news story. Our paths crossed again when I was dating a student teacher of John's wife, Eve.
In the 70's John would often be called upon to cut political commercials and I had the pleasure of recording him, ususall ONE TAKE! Even into the 90's he was still a voice heard in the Williamsport market doing work for his church and even some political commercials. I ran into him in the late 90's in Wal-Mart, and we had a brief chat then. Once I found him on Facebook I finally got the opportunity to tell him he was a mentor to a young DJ want to be, I think he was kind of shocked.
I had not heard from him for a while so last night I did a search and found out he had passed away this past November at age 87. I was greatly saddened by this and wished I had known.
The Obituary from the Williamsport Sun Gazette is as follows:
John H. Archer Jr., 87, of 1900 Ravine Road, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at The Gatehouse Hospice with his family by his side.
John and his wife, the former Eva Mae Winter, celebrated their 62nd anniversary on July 31.
John graduated from Altoona High School in 1941 and entered Penn State until 1943. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program. He served as Captain and pilot of a B-17 Bomber in the European Theater until 1946. He reentered Penn State, graduating in 1948 and was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity.
John was an announcer and Program Director at WCMB radio and television in Harrisburg and held the same positions at WWPA in Williamsport. In 1966, John joined Alcan Cable as Personnel Manager. He became Employee Relations Manager, retiring in 1985 after 19 years.
John was active in the community, serving as a board member of the YMCA, board member and President of the Lycoming County Association for the Blind, served on the Pa. Association for the Blind, board member and President of St. Anthony's Center, member of the United Churches of Lycoming County Board, Red Cross volunteer, Meals on Wheels volunteer, member of Dietrick Lamade Lodge No. 755 F. & A.M., a member of AASR Consistory Valley of Williamsport, a member of National Sojourners, Lycoming Chapter 509, served on the Municipal Authority and the Williamsport/Lycoming County Airport Authority.
John's love was flying. He was a member of the Wilco Flying Club and a proud member of the Quiet Birdmen, a pilots association.
John was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving as a Vestryman, a Lector/Chalice Bearer, and Lay Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife have worked at St. Anthony's Center dehydrating food to be sent to starving countries. In 1990 John and Eva received the Brotherhood Award from the Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance.
Born April 18, 1923, in St. Joseph, Mo., he was the son of John H. Sr. and Fay Schiller Archer.
Surviving besides his wife, are a son, John H. III; and a daughter, Katherine E. (Leland) Shipe, both of Williamsport; and a brother, James (Eileen) Archer of New London, Conn.
I wonder how many other people John was a mentor to?
Thank you John, may you rest in peace.
In the (early to mid) 1950's when I was growing up in Williamsport, Pa. you listened to either WRAK or WWPA. WWPA was my parents radio station of choice and I listened intently to the announcers. To be fair WWPA had many good people on the air, but one of the best was John Archer. He had a voice and style that fit the station very well and this young kid, who wanted tobe in radio someday, was impressed.
A chance meeting happened in the summer of 1959 while on a fishing vacation with my father and a friend of his on Little Rideau Lake in Canada at a place called Winters Island. I became friends with two other kids about my age, and that weekend thier father joined them, it was John Archer! Anyway, as I grew older WWPA lost it's appeal, as I was getting into listening to "That damn kid's station WMPT" where I eventually worked and honed a lot of my skills.
I never forgot John, who had left radio and went to work for Alcan Cable, but he still did some political commercials and I would run into him often. His son John III worked for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and i would often see them together at some news story. Our paths crossed again when I was dating a student teacher of John's wife, Eve.
In the 70's John would often be called upon to cut political commercials and I had the pleasure of recording him, ususall ONE TAKE! Even into the 90's he was still a voice heard in the Williamsport market doing work for his church and even some political commercials. I ran into him in the late 90's in Wal-Mart, and we had a brief chat then. Once I found him on Facebook I finally got the opportunity to tell him he was a mentor to a young DJ want to be, I think he was kind of shocked.
I had not heard from him for a while so last night I did a search and found out he had passed away this past November at age 87. I was greatly saddened by this and wished I had known.
The Obituary from the Williamsport Sun Gazette is as follows:
John H. Archer Jr., 87, of 1900 Ravine Road, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at The Gatehouse Hospice with his family by his side.
John and his wife, the former Eva Mae Winter, celebrated their 62nd anniversary on July 31.
John graduated from Altoona High School in 1941 and entered Penn State until 1943. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program. He served as Captain and pilot of a B-17 Bomber in the European Theater until 1946. He reentered Penn State, graduating in 1948 and was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity.
John was an announcer and Program Director at WCMB radio and television in Harrisburg and held the same positions at WWPA in Williamsport. In 1966, John joined Alcan Cable as Personnel Manager. He became Employee Relations Manager, retiring in 1985 after 19 years.
John was active in the community, serving as a board member of the YMCA, board member and President of the Lycoming County Association for the Blind, served on the Pa. Association for the Blind, board member and President of St. Anthony's Center, member of the United Churches of Lycoming County Board, Red Cross volunteer, Meals on Wheels volunteer, member of Dietrick Lamade Lodge No. 755 F. & A.M., a member of AASR Consistory Valley of Williamsport, a member of National Sojourners, Lycoming Chapter 509, served on the Municipal Authority and the Williamsport/Lycoming County Airport Authority.
John's love was flying. He was a member of the Wilco Flying Club and a proud member of the Quiet Birdmen, a pilots association.
John was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving as a Vestryman, a Lector/Chalice Bearer, and Lay Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife have worked at St. Anthony's Center dehydrating food to be sent to starving countries. In 1990 John and Eva received the Brotherhood Award from the Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance.
Born April 18, 1923, in St. Joseph, Mo., he was the son of John H. Sr. and Fay Schiller Archer.
Surviving besides his wife, are a son, John H. III; and a daughter, Katherine E. (Leland) Shipe, both of Williamsport; and a brother, James (Eileen) Archer of New London, Conn.
I wonder how many other people John was a mentor to?
Thank you John, may you rest in peace.