John Christopher Kowsky: Pacific NW Broadcaster

Goodbye TV, Hello KQSP-FM

Kowsky’s career in front of TV cameras ended in 1985. That’s when he became half of a two person morning show at Spirit 99-FM (KQSP-FM). He teamed up with the station PD, Sky Walker, who was formerly with KJR-Seattle. And the much admired Spokane radio and TV broadcaster, Sunshine Shelly, would occasionally chime in with the weather forecast. (To read more about Sunshine Shelly, click HERE.) After about a year at KQSP, an opportunity came along that put John’s radio career on hold for three years.

Broadcasting Took a Holiday

In 1986, Kowsky was able to substantially increase his income by becoming a self-employed consultant in the petroleum/lubrication industry. That kind of specialized field might seem outside the scope of a typical broadcaster, but Kowsky knew the ropes. His father had been in that line of work for decades — that’s how his dad supported the family when John was a kid growing up in Bellingham.

Kowsky remained in the petroleum industry for 28 years, up until 2014. But his heart remained in broadcasting. In 1989, a PD in Spokane wanted John to get back on the radio. Good news for listeners, Kowsky determined he could hold two jobs — one in the petrol business and another in radio. He accepted the afternoon slot at KISS 98-FM (KISC-FM, formerly KHQ-FM). That PD, who lured John back into radio, was his longtime friend Rob Harder. Kowsky spent the next 10 years at KISS-FM. But, by the late 1990s, he was contemplating retirement from broadcasting. What great timing he displayed — a new century was on the horizon!

If he was retiring from broadcasting, John decided he’d better make it memorable. His last KISS-FM on-air shift was New Year’s Eve of the Millennium. Tongue in cheek, Kowsky declared that he chose that last day of 1999 for his retirement “so the occasion could be celebrated all over the world.”

Several prominent broadcasters participated in that on-air farewell. The aircheck below includes tributes from Steve “Chainsaw “Jackson (KREM-KOMO-TV); Steve Taylor-Citizen Bill (KREM-KING-KFRC-KGO); Ian Richards (BBC-KREM); Dave Hanson (KATZ-KPUG where he worked with John in the late ’60s); and lastly a short aircheck of a rockin’ John Christopher Kowsky on KING in 1975.

Retirement tributes for Kowsky on KISS 98-FM in Spokane. (Dec. 31, 1999) Length 2:14

Back Behind the Mic

Eighteen years after he had retired, Kowsky was back on the radio. He couldn’t resist the offer he got from KPND-FM, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene. It came from PD Marie McCalister, whom he had worked with in the late ’70s at KREM. The station played good music, and he liked both the format and the staff. John agreed to work weekend afternoons. And he is still at it.

Kowsky is dedicated to KPND-FM. In 2021, when KPUG alums held a zoom reunion, John dropped by to say “hi.” He couldn’t stay long because he was 0n-air at KPND. Out of dozens of us mostly retired radio guys attending the reunion, John was the only person who was live on the radio that Saturday afternoon.

Gratitude

John Christopher Kowsky admires many people who helped him along the way. He said that he owes a “thank you” to one person he met way back in the 1950s: “A very early-on influence or inspiration was someone my mother pushed me towards, when I was 4 years old. He was at a ski resort, while touring the country to promote his new, nationally syndicated news and commentary broadcasts. He was wearing a blue ski parka, and had just come out of the Lodge. He reached down, shook my hand and said ‘well hello, young man. I’m Paul Harvey.’ I still remember that day.

“I have worked with many radio personalities over the years. There was my friend George Ruggles at KPUG, Rob Harder and Andy Barber at KREM, and Gary Lockwood, Joe Cooper and Phil Harper at KING. But I never would have had a career in broadcasting without the PD’s who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to develop on-air (much to their later consternation, I’m sure) such as Bob (O’Neil) Tria (KPUG), Don Bernier (KMEL), Rob Glendenning (KREM), Chuck Heaton (KHQ), and let’s not forget the late Hollywood TV Producer Dick Clark. Sadly, many of these people are gone now. I am fortunate and pleased that KPND’s Marie McCalister is still a radio programmer and she saw the value in bringing back an experienced old-timer such as myself.”

Prologue

Radio has at times provided respite to Kowsky. When his wife and companion of 50 years became gravely ill, he was her caregiver for a decade. Upon her passing, he was left with a huge hole in his life. John credited his show at KPND as giving him something positive and productive to concentrate on. With time the hurt got somewhat better.

Then, with the encouragement of good friends, he was able to move forward. Recently John married Lori O’ Brien, who among her other credentials and attributes, was the lovely former Miss USA-South Dakota. Lori and John enjoy one another’s company and they love attending social gatherings and getting together with friends.

The picture below is accompanied by an interesting story. The shot is from a Coeur d’Alene Halloween costume party. As you can see, John and Lori are dressed as Beth and Rip from the “Yellowstone” TV series. John revealed that the outfit made him such a chick magnet — all the ladies wanted their pictures taken with him — that Lori laid down the law. She said he’s “banned for life from ever again wearing that costume.”

Along with his weekends at KPND-FM, Kowsky still does commercial voice-over work. He says he stands in front of a mic a lot with most of the recordings going to television stations. John Christopher Kowsky’s resiliency and success during his nearly 50 years in broadcasting are reminders of that old adage “things change, but life goes on.”