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Radio DJ Thomas John lends voice to Heart Walk
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
If you plan to attend Saturday’s annual Tri-County Heart Walk at Youngstown State University’s WATTS training facility, expect to see a familiar face and hear a familiar voice.
“I love doing it. All of the people are great,” said Thomas John about his 30 years of volunteering on behalf of the fundraiser.
John, a longtime broadcaster with WHOT radio who began his career April 1, 1972, is the digital-content director for iHeartRadio. He also hosts a Sunday evening doo-wop show on Big 106.1 FM.
In 1984, he was promotions director for WHOT and began acting as master of ceremonies for the Heart Walk.
The 1.25-mile walk around the YSU campus is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the WATTS center. Its goals are to promote physical activity and raise $250,000 for the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular-research and educational programs.
John fondly recalled when the Heart Walk was known as the Turkey Walk, and when he dressed in a turkey costume. The Heart Walk used to average 300 to 400 walkers, all of whom received door prizes, and has grown to more than 1,000 participants.
John said that he has a lot of compassion for each year’s Heart Walk kids, but also goes out of his way to spend time with their siblings, many of whom he says are unintentionally overlooked. They often shoulder the double burden of having a brother or sister with heart problems and being overshadowed during such gatherings, John continued.
“I always try to gravitate toward these kids,” he said.
On Sept. 17, 2005, John was given a plaque for having volunteered more than two decades for the walk. Inscribed on the plaque is a series of small photographs of previous events.
“We love having the opportunity to work with him for the Heart Walk,” said Gina Henke, the local American Heart Association’s communications director. “We think it’s wonderful he’s being recognized for all he does for the community.”