Colleagues and
Family Salute "Big John" McElhinney
(March 22, 2003) A
Masonic funeral was held today for 710/KMPC's John McElhinney at
Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall. "John is safe in his Father's
home," remarked the leader of the Masonic services, an organization he
was a member of for 45 years. "His life had dignity and
grace."
One of John's two sons, David,
remembered his dad as a "good teacher. He had integrity. He told us to
be proud of who we are and where we're from." David said that his dad
was always strict and a good disciplinarian and rarely showed weakness.
"But in his last days, he showed a tenderness and an incredible
strength."
John and Doris were married for
57 years and they had two sons and four grandchildren. From 1943-46 he
served in the Army Medical Corps. Representative from the LAPD and CHP (John
was a sergeant of the LAPD from 1947-67), attended the services.
Following the church services, Mike Nolan
(KFI/KOST), Commander Chuck
Street (KIIS-FM), Philippe Lesourd (KLOS), Johnny McCool
(Channel 34) and Sgt. Doug Abney and Kevin Gallager (LAPD) flew in formation over Eternal Valley
with the missing plane.
Condolences
and correspondence may be sent, via e-mail to John's wife, Doris McElhiney
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Ken
Miller,
Doris McElhinney |
Stan Spero,
Kevin Gershan |
John Felz |
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| Bob
Maryon |
Ollie
Stine, Pamela McInnes, Bob Maryon, Ken Miller,
Stan Spero, John Felz, Kevin Gershan |
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"Big John" McElhinney Joins
Illustrious Group in 710 Heaven
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(March 14, 2002) "Big John" McElhinney, a
beloved 710/KMPC broadcaster for many years, died quietly on March 14, 2003
at his home in Bakersfield. He had been fighting a losing battle with
congestive heart failure and lung cancer. John was 77. "Big
John" had numerous careers but cherished the time when he was part of
the KMPC morning drive team with Robert W. Morgan and Marv Howard. |
Born
in 1925 in Oakville, Iowa, John moved to the Southland when he was a youth.
"Oakville had 500 souls," John told me while interviewing him for
Los Angeles Radio People. After serving in the military, he was
discharged in 1946 and went to work in a gas station. "I was pumping
gas and changing oil. Two L.A. cops came to the station every day and they
encouraged me to take the police examination. I took the test at Hollywood
High, was hired and spent 20 years as part of the helicopter unit of the Los
Angeles Police Department."
After
a midair collision that took the life of KMPC's Max Schumacher, it
was a very "unsettling time" for John. He left the police
department and became general manager of Bell Helicopter's Van Nuys Center
before going airborne for full-service KMPC. He left KMPC in 1982 after
undergoing open-heart surgery. "I ran away to Salem, Oregon. I knew my
flying career was over and I was feeling sorry for myself. I needed an
escape vehicle." John worked in radio and was a tv weatherman in
Oregon. In 1987 he returned to KMPC and experienced his happiest times.
"For a while Marv and I did a one-hour show together each morning
before Robert started his shift." John and his wife Doris lived in
Wofford Heights, between Kernville and Lake Isabella. "Our cabin sits
on the side of a hill and it looks over the lake," John said wistfully.
His colleagues, family and friends share memories about a well-loved LARP:
** Big John Funny and Glib
"John
McElhinney was a wonderful traffic reporter and a great person. Very
funny and glib as he did reports on the Dick Whittinghill show for
many years. There was a time when I came up with themes for all the on air
people on Whit's show and I used part of the record 'Big John' for his. He
always seemed to enjoy his theme. I had the pleasure of flying with him and
on one occasion he flew me to LAX to catch a flight for a vacation. What a
giving and warm man he was. I will miss him as I'm sure all the people who
knew him and all the many listeners will too. Heaven awaits my dear
friend." - Bob Maryon
** KMPC Boss Remember a
Great Human Being
"I will always remember John McElhinney as a great human
being and a very talented radio personality. He was dependable,
articulate and gave a wonderful service with his helicopter reports and warm
personality to the radio listeners of Southern California. It was an honor
and a pleasure to have worked with him over the many years he was at KMPC.
He will be greatly missed by his many friends and admirers. With Sorrow and
Sympathy." - Stan Spero
** Email
Buddy
“John McElhinney
was my email buddy and it came about in a very different way.
I met John
once. He was the nephew of my Mom's best friend. He and Doris brought
my Mom's friend [John's Aunt] to see my parents one last time in Peoria,
Illinois. She had lived in Peoria but moved to California in her later
years to be by John and Doris.
I put my email
address in a Christmas card and heard via email from John checking on my
Mom's health. It just mushroomed from there. I told my Mom John and I were
emailing and she said, ‘Do not send him anything off color.’ After
receiving a few ‘off color’ emails from John, I decided I could return
the favor.
I could tell by
his emails that he had a GREAT sense of humor. I will miss my email buddy
and his fun emails and comments. He was a connection to the past.
I am glad I found this memorial on the internet.
I asked Doris to send me some at a later date.” - Lynne Marsho, Peoria,
Illinois
** Kindest and
Funniest Uncle
“I just read the tributes
to John McElhinney on the Los Angeles Radio Web site. I was so
moved by the outpouring of affection. I had known my ‘Uncle John’
since the age of 14. He was on the LAPD then and was good friends
with my dad, Bill Guldner. He was the kindest and funniest man I had
ever known.
When my dad suffered a
stroke in 2001, John wrote him funny letters to keep his spirits up. I
spoke and exchanged many an email with John, even after my dad passed away
this past December. John was the first person I saw at dad's funeral. John
and Doris made the trip from Bakersfield after John had been diagnosed
with cancer and had started radiation treatments. That was just the
kind of man he was. He always thought of others. When he had his heart
attack I spoke with him on one of the last occasions he had the strength to
talk. I will always be grateful I had the opportunity to tell him how
much our family loved him and appreciated his support during the 18 months
my dad was so ill.
We have truly lost a
good soul.” – BJ Frazier
** A Wink to Big
John
"Big John, as
he was lovingly called, was a very special person to every one who knew and
worked with him. I had the pleasure of getting to know him well the
twelve years I was on the air at KMPC middays. It was John who, as
a favor, flew me to Palm Springs one Sunday morning for a General Telephone
tv commercial I was scheduled to shoot. And while there that day I stopped
by the Gene Autry Hotel, where I met my future wife [of 28 years]
- Sandy.
So John was special to
me for many reasons! A good man. He will be missed by everyone who
had the pleasure of calling him friend.” - Wink Martindale
**
John Was More Than Talent
“John McElhinney
was a big part of my life when I managed KMPC. His unique humor was
unmatched both on air and off. I flew with John many times and enjoyed the
pleasure of calling he and his wife, Doris my friends.” Ken Miller
**
“Big John” Was Best Cop
“John McElhinney
was the traffic reporter on my show at KMPC for a number of years. We’d
talk about his dog, Dudley, a giant St. Bernard, every day. [Dudley once
played the tuba on the show.]
Charlie Reese of the LAPD
always said – ‘Big John’ was the one of the best cops ever.’ He was
a marvelous gentleman! We’ll miss him. I spoke to him and his widow Doris
just three days before his death.” – Gary Owens
** McElhinney Was a Friend
"I had the pleasure of working with John McElhinney at KMPC from
1975-1984. 'Big John'
was not only a fellow KMPC alumni, he was my friend. When I was in high
school, he gave me my first 'birdseye' view of the city in KMPC's Bell 47G
helicopter [the bubble cockpit with no doors]. After I started
working at KMPC I was able to spend more time with John and considered him a
pro's pro who also made me feel like I was important, not just some kid
hanging around the station.
As part of 'The Good Morgan Team,' John went out on all the
crazy remotes we did, from County Fair's to Mike Botula's Greater
Tustin Miniature Golf Classic. He always was one of the people the listeners
flocked to see. People still ask me if I have a copy of 'Big John's'
rendition of 'The Little Red Sled.' Now, that he has taken to the sky once
more, I'm sure his good friend Robert W. Morgan was there to greet
him and say, 'Hiya Pard...let me show you around.'" - Kevin Gershan
** Directed “Big John”
“I was one of those news guys who got to direct ‘Big John’
McElhinney around at times of fires and turmoil and the like over the
Southland.
We even put together a very short lived aerial tour of little known places
seen only from the air and truly described only through the marvelous eyes
of John. Perhaps his greatest attribute was that he never stopped being just
a nice guy.
He's there now with his old Airwatch collegues – Captain Max Shumacher,
Jim Hicklin and, of course, the other big fella, Herb Green.
Whatta guy.” - Scott Shurian, KMPC News
**
Recalled the Banter Between RWM and "Big John"
"I was so saddened to hear of John McElhinney's passing. It
immediately took me back to the 80s when I worked with a group of great
professionals in taking KMPC to a 3.4 rating playing music on an AM station.
My God if that is a great rating today, it was a blockbuster then. Most of
all it was the people who made it all work, and I will forever be thankful
that I was a part of that group.
Memories came alive today when I recalled the banter and byplay of Robert
W. Morgan and Big John. May their souls rest in peace." - Bill
Mouzis
** Big John
McElhinney Was Special
“Big John McElhinney
was a VERY nice man! When I was recruited to come here, he gave me one
heckava ride and tour in his chopper and when I was doing the Autry Special,
Big John took me to a lot of my interview subjects. I think the last
one was to Roy Rogers' place where we had a wonderful
time with Roy and Dale.” – Scott St. James
** Email to An
Ailing John McElhinney
“Here's the letter I
wrote ‘Big John’ McElhinney last week: Years ago - a lot of 'em -
long before professional wrestling even dreamed of routinely holding matches
in front of 50,000 fans, a former cop from Camden, New Jersey, named Herman
‘Dutch’ Rhode bleached his hair and stepped into the ring as NATURE BOY
BUDDY ROGERS. At the height of an illustrious and highly lucrative career as
one of the world's premier athletes [despite the relative merits of pro
wrestling as a sport] in front of a sold-out crowd at Comiskey Park in
Chicago, NATURE BOY won the World Heavyweight Championship from Pat O'Connor
in 1963.
The Champ is gone now,
but down through the years, Buddy Rogers generated a number of copy-cats,
each calling themselves NATURE BOY. One or two of 'em were extremely
successful and very entertaining performers. Everybody knew, though, deep
down in their black hearts that there was, is and ever will be only one real
NATURE BOY, and THAT was Buddy Rogers.
OK. Here's where we're
going with this: I worked for years in San Diego, Anaheim and Los Angeles as
‘Big John’ [Carter]. I am big. My real name is John. I always
pulled pretty good numbers. But when the books are written, THIS Big John
would like to freely acknowledge for the record that there was, is and ever
will be only one real BIG JOHN
in Southern California broadcasting, and that, Sir, is YOU.
PERIOD.
I wish you a safe
landing, Brother. You are the Champion! My condolences right across the
board.” – “Big John” Carter
** Sad Day as John
McElhinney Dies
“Sad day, the passing of John
McElhinney. He also did a lot of traffic for me at KMPC. He was bright,
happy and always had a good word for everyone. John was a good guy.
When I had to go to NYC for business, after my broadcasts from the ball
park, John would pick me up at the ballpark in the whirly-bird and fly
me to LAX. We were very fortunate at KMPC. The Cowboy and Stan Spero
always had a station full of ‘good guys’ some kinda strange, but still
‘good guys.’ Our love to John's Doris and their family.” – Roger
Carroll
** McElhinney Nice
Man
“I'm so sad to hear about
‘Big John’ McElhinney. A wonderfully nice man who delighted
everyone he knew. Please let me know when his services are. I'd like to try
to go.” - Sharon Benoit
** McElhinney Great
“ ‘Big John’
McElhinney was so great with Robert W. Morgan. I have tapes of
one of RWM's Christmas shows with John - truly classic radio. At least
Robert W. and Big John can renew their partnership now. Thanks for the news,
even though it's sad.” - Bob Johnson
**
Nothing Negative About Big John
“I am
looking forward to reading your readers’ emails regarding ‘Big
John’ McElhinney. I’m sure they will contain high praise; there was
nothing negative about John. He always made being at work a pleasure.” - Don
McCulloch
**
Rode Shotgun with “Big John”
“John
McElhinney used to tell me, ‘There are old pilots and there are bold
pilots. But, there are no old, bold pilots.’ I logged a lot of time
with John as a visitor to his perch high above Los Angeles in KMPC's
Airwatch helicopter. Many an afternoon, I would leave the KMPC newsroom
and drive out to Burbank Airport and tag along with him as he did his
afternoon traffic reports. ‘Big John.’ What a blend of talent, skills,
humor and humanity. He had already completed one career, as a police
officer and one of the first helicopter pilots flying for the Los Angeles
Police Department.
He
joined KMPC following the murder of the legendary Airwatch pilot Jim
Hicklin in 1973. While he was a skilled pilot, John was
totally new to broadcasting. At first, he was more apprehensive about
talking into the microphone than being in a dog fight with the Red Baron. Being
an airborne broadcaster takes a lot of concentration. John was
constantly doing ten things at once - gathering information for his traffic
reports, talking to the control tower, communicating with the news room,
keeping a lookout for other aircraft in one of the busiest aviation traffic
areas in the world and all at the same time making his passenger feel
comfortable and most importantly connecting with his listeners. In
doing so, he made it sound so easy. The folks who tuned in to hear John
give them information about traffic and to talk about his dog, Dudley and
joke about ‘Ranger Rick,’ and tell his seasonal story about how the
little angel who first became a Christmas tree ornament, all considered
John their friend, not just a voice in the sky.
John
and I shared a passion for photography and he provided me with the greatest
camera platform in the world. It was also a privilege for me to share
his view of one of the most amazing cities in the world - Los Angeles. One
afternoon, I was trying out a new wide angle lens and shot a profile of John
with the Los Angeles skyline behind him. The shot was later used in a
promotional poster for KMPC. When we first looked at the photo,
he remarked, ‘Ah, the Emerald City.’ He really loved his job.
Those
of us who were privileged to work at KMPC Radio 710 during that period still
marvel at being a part of one of the greatest broadcast operations in
history. John McElhinney made a huge contribution to that success. There
will never be another KMPC, as we knew it in the 70s and sadly, there will
not be another John McElhinney. I'm glad that he managed to outlive
being a ‘bold pilot.’
Farewell,
my friend.” - Mike Botula, Assistant Director Office of Public
Affairs California Department of Child Support Services
