Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled

Donna Brown, John Brown

Description

Cerebral Palsy, a developmental disease impacting motor coordination, affects 3 out of 1,000 births. While medical intervention such as physical or speech therapy, ambulatory aides like wheelchairs or braces, help a child achieve a productive life, John Brown was determined that he would leave his mark on the world. Born in the early 50's with a type of spastic CP impacting his gait and balance, but leaving his speech intact, John and his strong willed mother fought against the times' conventional wisdom and doctors' predictions that he would never walk. After an early childhood of repeated muscle lengthening surgeries and body braces, he insisted upon leaving a special education school to be mainstreamed in the Philadelphia Catholic, then public, school systems, and went on to play Catholic grade school football and developed a keen interest in high school wrestling and football. After completing a degree in broadcast journalism, he embarked on a 44 year career as an award winning Philadelphia radio disc jockey, traffic reporter and meteorologist, retiring in October 2013. From the childhood specialists who viewed him as just another special needs child, to his first radio program director who called him a diamond in the rough, John was determined to be the best in his field and demonstrate that hard work, perseverance and, some luck, can help one trump the odds no matter the obstacles. John's is a story of the American spirit, how tears, determination and true grit can get you to the top.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• développement personnel
• Self-help
• Inspirational
• Motivational

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 09 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781478778004
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2015 John Brown with Donna Brown
v2.0

Cover Photo © 2015 thinkstockphotos.com. All images used with permission.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4787-7800-4

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Germantown
Andalusia
California
Back Home
My Radio Career Begins
Stalkers and Death Threats
England
Knee Surgery and More
June 21, 2010
Scotland
Are You and Employer?
Retirement
Facebook
The Retirement Party
That's It
FOREWORD
THE GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL
I have known John Brown since 1982. I was in the radio business in Philadelphia and marveled at the very authoritative voice reporting traffic information to the millions of listeners throughout the Delaware Valley. I had heard about John over the years, but like most listeners, I wondered what “the face behind the mic” really looked like. I was managing a radio station at the time, but had no reason to meet John.

One day a fellow traffic anchor at Shadow Traffic informed me that the company was in financial trouble and was looking for a buyer. As a “wannabe entrepreneur,” I thought this might be an opportunity for me. A few years earlier, I had been at the Shadow offices on the top floor of The Holiday Inn hotel and met the owner and a few employees, but not John Brown. I was intrigued with the business, but nothing came out of those meetings. In 1982, I again tried to acquire the company. This time I met John Brown. Into the office came a “hippy”-looking guy, long hair, an earring, and the attitude of a very confident broadcaster. This was a guy that I connected with from the beginning. I knew that this was someone who I could build a business around. There were many good people at Shadow, but John was a guy that I could depend on. He was steady, always there, and very opinionated!

I was to partner with a local Philadelphia businessman, leave my radio job, and was poised to acquire Shadow Traffic. For various reasons, the deal never happened. All of us were disappointed. However, this was the beginning of my relationship with John Brown. Shadow continued to “fall on hard times” and moved into trailers in an industrial neighborhood of Philadelphia. I remember getting a call from John with an update on the company and that the staff was complaining about everything from the “close quarters, poor heat, and air conditioning to having to leave the trailers to go to bathrooms that were in a different building.” What a nightmare! Although we didn’t own the business yet, I knew that John Brown would keep everyone together, knowing that things were going to change! They were about to. In October of 1984, I along with two other local businesspeople acquired Shadow Traffic. I was about to learn about John Brown. John was not the “boss,” but he took the lead. He made sure that his staff was ready and would regularly point out to me that “our information” had to be better than our competition…. the ARCO GO PATROL!

I knew very little about traffic, but I was about to learn. We moved Shadow to our “new world headquarters” on Delaware Avenue in an unfinished building. This was certainly an upgrade from the trailers, but the complaints, although fewer, continued! Again John “stepped up” and kept people together. In 1985, we acquired the competition, the ARCO GO PATROL. Now we had two companies, two general managers, two systems, and two staffs to merge. I knew the guy who could get this done was John Brown. As program director through the years that followed, John made sure that our product was the best that it could be and that the announcers did their jobs well. Relations with our client radio stations were good in Philadelphia. John led the way with “Unity Day,” an urban station-sponsored program for years, was the pitcher for the Shadow softball team, and made multiple appearances at radio-station promotions… always representing the company well! In 1986, we acquired Shadow Traffic New York and John was an important part of that transaction, acting as a consultant to the company during due diligence. In my opinion, John was getting restless in his position, having been program director since 1980. In 1987, we purchased Shadow Traffic Chicago and as we learned more about the operation, it was clear that we needed new leadership there. I spent time talking with John about Chicago and the opportunity that was available. Having never relocated before, John wanted me to talk with his wife Donna. John warned me that Donna was a “tough cookie,” but if I could convince her, he “was in!” Well… in March of 1988, John became VP of Operations, Shadow Chicago. John had to navigate through various challenges, but successfully established the Shadow brand in Chicago. However, John and Donna missed home and Donna’s grandmother so it was back to Philly as VP of Operations. It was as if this “hippy” had never left. The top stations wanted John back doing their reports, the team needed a pitcher, the new Shadow logo and clothing needed approval, and the market and product needed some attention. John was back, but now there was competition in the market. Some of the veteran announcers and producers left for more money. Not John! John vowed to stay with me to “fight the fight”… and together we won! There was never a time that John wavered. Good times, challenging times, I could always depend on John.

Throughout his career, John was always active in the community, winning awards from the March of Dimes and Variety Clubs. Voted as Philadelphia’s Best Traffic Reporter and twice the winner of Philadelphia’s Best Weather Forecaster (John found the time to become a meteorologist), he was awarded the Philadelphia Milestone in Radio Award for his thirty years plus of contributions to the radio arts in Philadelphia.

John is a real American Revolution and Civil War history buff, which inspired him to research his family members that served in the Civil War. To round off his interests, John studied ancient history and is a fan of music and movies.

As contemporaries, John and I respectfully and lovingly referred to each other as “Dad.” We are both blessed with a thick head of silver hair! John is a leader. He always knew what to say to me to calm me down in my times of stress. He knew how to get the best out of me and the hundreds and maybe thousands of people that he worked with throughout his career.

In 2013 after 34 years in the traffic business, John decided to retire. I had not seen John for awhile, but at his retirement party, I was asked to speak about John. My words are similar to what I say as I complete this part of his story. “I am honored to know John Brown. I love John and most of all, I am proud to say that John Brown is my friend!”

From his hippy days to his life as a respected broadcaster and executive, with John, “the glass is always half full.”

But I guess you already figured that out…didn’t you?

A. Richard Marks

Dedicated to all of you who are disabled, be it through birth, accident, or from serving our country. You can succeed, don’t be afraid to fail. In failing there is learning.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First I want to thank God for making me tough enough to handle whatever life has thrown at me.

I want to thank my wife, Donna, for all the support she’s given me, especially the past few years. Could not have made it without her.

To my parents, especially my mother who did not believe the doctors and did all she could to make sure I would make it in a tough world.

To my very first friend Tom McGinly and his entire family, including his wife Denise, for making me feel no different than anyone else.

Thanks go out to Ginny McCurdy and her family as well.

To Sister Anastasia and Sister Rose for helping me get through school and reminding me that God has special plans for me.

To Rich Boyes, his parents, and his family Debbie, Nancy, Lissa, and Mike. They made growing up in Andalusia fun and accepted me as one of the family. Rich’s daughters, Missy and Heather, also made me feel like family.

To Buck Mansfield, his wife Sally, and the entire Mansfield family for being there for me when my brother passed away. For making growing up in Andalusia so much fun.

To Jim Adams and his mom. Jim, I still believe your mom saved my life.

To my good friend and personal attorney, Paul Rauer, who thinks I should be a motivational speaker.

To everyone I have worked with and who has worked for me. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your careers. I wish you all great success.

Finally to all you listeners who have followed my career. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; without you there would have been no career.
Okay, I’m finally retired after working for 50 years, the last 44 in radio as a DJ, traffic reporter, and meteorologist. My question here is what do retired people do? Let’s take a look… Golfing? Nope not for me, too much walking; however, I kick butt on a miniature golf course. Fishing? Nope, Johnny does not touch bait, worms, squid, or whatever you put on a hook, plus it’s boring. Collect something? I already collect decoys and duck carvings so that’s out. Write a book? That’s it, I’m gonna write a book