THE COLLEGE TRY
I
In 1968 , John Records Landecker was in his final semester at Michigan State University ( after beginning his college career at Grand Valley State ), when he suddenly got an offer he felt he couldn ’ t refuse . A big AM rock station in Philadelphia ( WIBG ) wanted him to be their new night time jock . The only problem was that Landecker had to start immediately , which meant he had to drop out of school .
Far from being an easy decision , this was a gut-wrencher for John . His father Werner was a professor at the University of Michigan , and Landecker knew that nothing meant more to his dad than his oldest son getting a college degree . On the other hand , the whole point of getting that degree was landing that first job , and here the job had been handed to John on a silver platter . If Landecker waited , it was highly doubtful another great offer like this would come along . At the time , John ’ s father was on a sabbatical in Germany , so before contacting him , John sought the advice and counsel of his inlaws ( John was married and had a young daughter at the time ) and his professors . All of them urged him to leap at the offer .
John did as he was advised , and his National Radio Hall of Fame career proves that he made the right call . On the other hand , in his memoir Records Truly is My Middle Name , Landecker still counts telling his parents about his decision as among the most difficult things he ever had to do . It has always gnawed at him that he never got that degree .
Len O ’ Kelly , a former colleague of Landecker ’ s at WJMK radio in Chicago , and a current Associate Professor of Multimedia Journalism at Grand Valley State University , read this portion of the book with great interest . Was Landecker really that close to getting his degree ? He asked for John ’ s transcripts at his various college stops including Grand Valley State , Michigan State , and Columbia College ( John took some film classes there in the ' 70s ). Along with the Dean of his college , Frederick Antczak , the two academic experts added everything up , evaluated how those credits translated to modern day levels , and got the results .
“ I ' ve heard the story often ,” O ’ Kelly said . “’ I was one class away , and never finished .’ Usually , that ' s not the case . This was one where it was – John had gone his whole life thinking that he had missed out on completing his degree , and I discovered that he was so close . I knew I had to find a way to invite John back home to Grand Valley to finish it .”
He devised a way for John to do an independent study course , which would essentially be a writing assignment about his career . As soon as that idea came to him , O ’ Kelly realized something else . John had already written an entire book about that subject . It was in the library at the university . Would this qualify ? The dean agreed that it did . All that was necessary now was
By Rick Kaempfer
getting the funds to pay for those remaining credit hours . The school managed to find those funds through various different sponsorships , and before they knew it , John Records Landecker had qualified for a degree . The only person who didn ’ t know about it was John .
When Len O ’ Kelly invited John to speak to his class about radio , Landecker had no idea what was about to occur . He was there to talk to the kids . He regaled them with tales of his own days at Grand Valley State – stories that were not exactly academic in nature – including a great prank he and his roommates pulled on the kids across the hall when they somehow got an entire VW Bug into their living room while they slept .
As Landecker recounted these stories , he looked out at the room and told the students that they were going to be one up on
John Landecker
him in a few months – they were going to be college graduates , while he was merely a dropout . At that point , O ’ Kelly showed some of Landecker ’ s old report cards on the screen . “ Stop showing that ,” John said , embarrassed by his low grade in French . O ’ Kelly pointed out that John had actually been on the Dean ’ s list during his college days , something John didn ’ t even recall . He also said that the school had added up all the credits he had accumulated , and at that point Dean Antczak walked up to the front of the room holding something in his hand .
“ John Records Landecker ,” the Dean said , “ Congratulations . You are now a member of the 2017 graduating class of Grand Valley State University .” Dean Antczak handed John his diploma . “ Is this for real ?” Landecker asked , shell-shocked .
“ It is .” “ This isn ’ t some bullshit honorary degree ?” Landecker asked . “ No , it all fit together ,” the Dean responded . “ You have all the credits necessary to earn this . This is a real college degree . You are now officially a college graduate .” Landecker couldn ’ t say a word for about twenty seconds , obviously moved by the moment . He struggled to process what was occurring , and did his best to maintain his composure .
It was clearly an important moment in his life . Everyone in the room could see his emotional reaction . The room was silent , waiting for John ’ s response . When he could compose himself enough to say the words , he finally uttered the words he had been waiting 50 years to say . “ I came here today a college dropout , but I ’ m leaving a graduate .”
Landecker plans to attend the commencement ceremony in April .
16 illinoisentertainer . com march 2018