RIP John Otting

[John Quincy]

From the Courier-Journal's website:

OTTING JOHN PAGE, 75, of Louisville, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2009.

John served four years in the U.S. Navy stationed on an aircraft carrier during the Korean Conflict. After his tour of duty he returned home to Cincinnati, OH and entered the prestigious Conservatory of Music to major in Radio and Television Education. An entertainer at heart, he studied to become a radio disc jockey. His true talent came out once he became an account executive with WSAI AM in the late 1960's. John met with immediate success and was named General Sales Manager for WEBN FM in 1972. In 1979, John was named vice president/ general manager of WKLO/ WCSN in Louisville and changed these two stations into WKJJ AM & FM featuring a Top Forty music format. These two stations combined to be rated the number one station in the Louisville market in the first 30 days they were on the air. His reputation continued to climb as he partnered up with the owners and his former employer at WEBN of Cincinnati to buy WQHI (HI-95) and launched WQMF, a new rock-n-roll radio station that took Louisville by storm. For 17 years "Diamond John" Otting, as he was known by listeners, was the inspirational force and leadership behind this Louisville radio station. Otting Broadcasting was able to acquire an additional station in 1994, WQNF (known as Q-2) and was one of the first Alternative Rock radio format's in the United States. In December of 1996, he sold his broadcasting company and retired. He was given the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Ad Club of Louisville and has spent his remaining years enjoying his grandchildren and spending winters at his home in West Palm Beach. Cincinnati was his home town, but Louisville stole his heart. He was a proud Louisvillian.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia A. Otting; sons, John P. Otting II and Kevin A. Otting; one sister Gloria Vestring; five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jonathon, Amanda, Paige and Samantha.

His funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Pearson-Ratterman Funeral Home 12900 Shelbyville with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery. Visitation is 1-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider the two charities that he supported over his years at WQMF, Kentucky Harvest and The Center for Women and Families.

[bruiser]

Terry Meiners was talking about "Diamond John". How he and Ron Clay would drive him crazy with "The Show With No Name".

RIP "Diamond John".

[Travis]

I'm trying to remember if it was Ron Clay or Terry Meiners who gave John Otting the name of "Diamond John" but the name did originate on "The Show with No Name."

I may not have this next part exactly correct (my mind is starting to go, folks) but during my time at QMF a young Program Director by the name of Tom Owens, who would later become a major figure at then Jacor Communications and Clear Channel Communications was so inspired by John Page Otting that he named his newborn daughter Jenna Page Owens. At least I believe that was the name. Terry Meiners may be able to clarify.

[bruiser]

I think Terry did mention Jenna.

[Travis]

Today, Jenna would be around 26 or 27 years of age and I now believe her middle name may be spelled "Paige" rather than "Page."

Future Bob and Troy Roebuck were two old familiar names that I saw in the guestbook for Diamond John.

I was remembering that John Otting often said that in spite of his success in sales, station management and ownership, he would have loved to have been just a popular radio disc-jockey. He would then lower his voice and go into a smooth spiel whereby he would say lines like, "This is.. Johnny "O" on your radiO."

John Page Otting was buried Saturday (9/5/09). Wish I could have been there.

[crutnacker]

I used to wait tables at Garrett's and John was a fixture at the bar there for awhile. He loved a colorful suit.