John Gradick
John
got hooked on radio after a 1974 visit to meet Tim Byrd, "The
Bird Man" at the studios of The Big Ape (WAPE) in Jacksonville
Florida. After watching Byrd on the air he knew exactly what career
he wanted to pursue. Two years later in Beaufort, South Carolina
he'd get the chance to get behind the turn tables. John met local
DJ Dennis Reid and told him of his interest in radio. Dennis invited
John to "come by the studios sometime". John did come
by the studios, and never left. That was 1976 and he became the
afternoon announcer for WSIB.
His career took a turn toward television
when he landed a position as a "VJ" at the VideoMusic
Channel in Atlanta during the advent of video music in 1982. John
filled the 4-8pm slot for two years, broadcasting on WVEU channel
69, metro cable systems and satellite. In 1983 John's old friend
Dennis came through Atlanta for a brief visit. It was unknown
to John at the time, but Dennis had become a Christian since they
last saw each other and wanted to share the Gospel with him. On
the last day of that seven day visit, John and his wife Pam, understood
and accepted the Gospel and began their new life. Just a few short
months later God's path led John to WWEV.
Since working at WWEV in the eighties,
he has worked in radio programming and management, most recently
as Operations Manager for a seven station cluster owned by Adventure
Radio Group in the Savannah/Hilton Head market. He's enjoyed being
a consultant for Christian radio, working with The Christian Film
& Television Commission and being featured as an extra in
"The War" (1994 Universal Studios) as well as "Andersonville"
(1995 Turner Entertainment).
Out of every wonderful experience that he's been blessed with
over the course of his career, John has one that stands above
all:
"The highest honor of my career has been the honor of serving
the Lord at WWEV. God has always given me more through this ministry
and our listeners than I could ever give back. He has shown His
abundant grace again by giving me an opportunity to be a part
of this fantastic radio station".
John and his wife Pam have been married
25 years and have "five wonderful children, six delightful
grandchildren and two scruffy country poodles".
