Mason Beuhring, Communications & Program Services Director at Marietta Community Foundation, sits down with Johnny Wharff, local radio station owner and the newest member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, to get to know this prominent community member.
Mason Beuhring: I was reading your biography summary on WMOA and it said that you have always been a sports fan, what influenced that?
Johnny Wharff: Yeah, that would go back to my father who was a Sports Director in the late ’60s. I would listen to games on my transistor radio late at night. One of my earliest memories of being a sports fan was listening to St. Louis Cardinals game in the days of Bob Gibson and Lou Brock.
MB: Missouri is a pretty long distance for a young Ohio kid… how did you become a fan of a team hundreds of miles away?
JW: I played for a tee-ball team called the Cardinals when I was six and seven years old, so I just stuck with it.
MB: So obviously you go on to hang-up your Cardinals tee-ball jersey to eventually become a major figure in radio. What is your favorite part of being a radio broadcaster?
JW: Yes, tee-ball was actually the high point of my career on the field, so fortunately my father encouraged me to write about sports in high school, and ultimately earn a spot in the booth. I love the idea that you can truly paint a picture for the listeners (out there) by describing what is happening in front of you. Trying to bring that to the listener back home is really cool.
Even bringing in aspects of the picture that are outside of the game, like things going on in the background. I love the idea that you can create that compelling content for the listener.
MB: Now you went to Ohio University, correct?
JW: I did, I am an OU Bobcat, class of 1985.
MB: What did you major in while you were there?
JW: I actually started in Journalism, but ended with a Business degree with a double major of Marketing and Management.
MB: What was your journey from being an OU grad to eventually owning your own radio station, WMOA?
JW: After graduating I had a tremendous amount of opportunities. I interviewed with Coca Cola in Atlanta, Keebler Cookie Company and a Marketing company out of Toledo. At the same time my father was consulting Washington Technical College, now Washington State Community College, about WMOA radio station that they owned.
He had the opportunity to buy the station and he lured me back. In the midst of a big decision in my life, it was the best business decision that I ever made.
I started at WMOA in sales. If I could pick what I get to do every day, it would be sales… that’s my true passion in terms of the business of radio, and the relationships that develop from it.
I would later go on to purchase the radio station from my father, ‘Big’ John Wharff, in 1996.
MB: And, you all have a major milestone coming up this year?
JW: Yes, WMOA is getting ready to celebrate being on the air for 75 years in September.
MB: You mentioned you purchased the radio show from your father, and now you have your brother, Chris Wharff, and nephew, Brett Wharff, at WMOA as well. How does family play a part in what you do professionally?
JW: There is nothing more powerful than trusting the people around you to get things done, and I think that starts with family. But, my term of ‘family’ extends to more than just the people with the last name ‘Wharff.’ It includes the other people who I work with at the radio station.
The biggest thing is going to sleep at night and waking up in the morning knowing that somebody has got your back.
MB: We have talked about the journey through your career, but let’s transition and talk about your journey with Marietta Community Foundation. You just joined the Board of Directors at the beginning of this year, but prior to that, your wife was an Executive Director at the Foundation and you are also a donor/fundholder.
In your experience, what is one thing about the Foundation that you would like people to know?
JW: Carol was instrumental in developing my interest in MCF and its far-reaching impact. The most recent example of this happened this past year. After a last-minute conversation with Heather [Allender, President & CEO of the Foundation] we were able to transition our Christmas Zoo initiative to the partner with the Foundation.
Because of that transition, we had the most successful WMOA Christmas Zoo in 31 years, in terms of substantially helping people … and I credit that to the conversation with Heather and everyone at WMOA and our listeners getting on the same page.
MB: We often send press releases to the local media outlets, plus with you being a donor, you have regular contact with the Foundation. What excites you the most as a new board member?
JW: I think the idea of where the Foundation started, how it has expanded, and realizing that there is no end date… we are not trying to get to a destination with the Foundation. We are trying to ‘widen the road’ for those that come after us… We are just a small part of this great journey. Our job … Keep it between the lines and moving forward.
MB: Johnny thank you so much for sharing your story with me and serving our Washington County Community, I look forward to learning and working with you.