John Williams is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 talk radio

Talk radio

Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...

 show host at WGN (AM)

WGN (AM)

WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...

 in Chicago, Illinois. He has held several timeslots on WGN, including the 1–4 p.m. John Williams Experience until December 2008, Spike O'Dell

Spike O'Dell

William O'Dell a native of East Moline, Illinois, is a former radio host for WGN Radio in Chicago, Illinois. He joined WGN in 1987 and hosted the afternoon show until 2000, when he took over for the late Bob Collins in the morning slot from 5 to 9 a.m. During the time O'Dell held that slot, his...

's old 5–9 a.m. slot from December 2008 to June 2009, the 9 a.m.–noon slot from June 2009 to ?, and currently the 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. slot.

Early life

John Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended grade school in different places while his father was in the U.S. Air Force, but the family moved back to Joliet, Illinois

Joliet, Illinois

Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...

 after his father's retirement from the service.

Williams graduated from Minooka High School

Minooka High School

Minooka Community High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located in Minooka, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Minooka Community High School District 111.-History:...

 and later from Joliet Junior College

Joliet Junior College

Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...

, where his father was a school counselor. He eventually graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...

 as a broadcasting major.

Radio career

Williams worked briefly at WSPY-FM

WSPY-FM

WSPY-FM is an radio station broadcasting an AC format. Licensed to Plano, Illinois, USA, it serves the Fox Valley and Chicago's far west suburbs. The call letters stand for S=Sandwich, P=Plano,Y=Yorkville- the three towns in the station's original listening area.WSPY-FM 107.1 was founded by Larry...

 in Plano, Illinois

Plano, Illinois

Plano is a city in Kendall County, Illinois, United States near Aurora, with a population of 5,633 at the 2000 census. The city is rapidly growing with new subdivisions such as Lakewood Springs completed and several other developments under construction or in the planning stages. Former Speaker...

, then spent 10 years at WMBD (AM)

WMBD (AM)

WMBD is the oldest radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It broadcasts on 1470 kHz with 5000 watts day and night, with a 2-tower pattern during the day and a 4-tower pattern at night.The station started broadcasting in 1927...

 in Peoria, Illinois

Peoria, Illinois

Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...

. He also wrote a series of joke books, titled The Spieler Scale of Comedy. After four years at WCCO (AM) in Minneapolis, Williams was hired at WGN (AM)

WGN (AM)

WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...

 in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

 in September 1997.
Williams annually hosts a show interviewing President Thomas Jefferson. 'Jefferson' is portrayed by an actor who speaks and replies in a manner consistent with the real Jefferson's known writings and sayings. This act is occasionally used on Williams

Williams

-People:* Williams , a surname English in origin, but popular in Wales, 3rd most common in the United Kingdom* "Williams", the pseudonym of racing driver and SOE agent William Grover-Williams-United States:Communities*Williams, Arizona...

' regular WGN AM radio show, the most recent occurrence being June 29, 2011.

Timeline

• July 2010 WCCO 9:00-12:00
• July 2010 WGN 12:30-3:00
• April 2010 WCCO 1:00-3:00
• 2010 WGN 9:00AM TO 1:00PM
• December 2008 to 2010 — WGN 720
  WGN (AM)
  WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
  
  , Chicago, Illinois: morning show host, broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• September 1997 to December 2008 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: mid-day and afternoon show host
• 1993 to 1997 — WCCO, Minneapolis, Minnesota: mid-day show host
• 1981 to 1993 — WMBD, Peoria, Illinois: morning show host and other positions
• 1981 — WSPY-FM
  WSPY-FM
  WSPY-FM is an radio station broadcasting an AC format. Licensed to Plano, Illinois, USA, it serves the Fox Valley and Chicago's far west suburbs. The call letters stand for S=Sandwich, P=Plano,Y=Yorkville- the three towns in the station's original listening area.WSPY-FM 107.1 was founded by Larry...
  
   in Plano, Illinois
  Plano, Illinois
  Plano is a city in Kendall County, Illinois, United States near Aurora, with a population of 5,633 at the 2000 census. The city is rapidly growing with new subdivisions such as Lakewood Springs completed and several other developments under construction or in the planning stages. Former Speaker...
  
  

Recognitions

• Winner, Personality of the Year: Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards
• Finalist, Personality of the Year: 2006 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards
• Finalist, NAB Marconi Radio Awards
  NAB Marconi Radio Awards
  The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters to the top radio stations and on-air personalities in the United States. The awards are named in honor of Guglielmo Marconi, the man generally credited as the "Father of Wireless Telegraphy." NAB member...
  
  
• Winner, Best Afternoon Show on a News, Talk, Personality or Sports Station: A.I.R. Awards
• Winner, Best Talent: A.I.R. Awards

Life outside radio

Williams enjoys reading, running (including once around the block outside WGN in long underwear to fulfill a pledge), and playing basketball. He is married, has two sons, and his late dachshund named Fred, who he called "The World's Largest Wiener Dog".