Author, broadcast executive, philanthropist. Born in 1922, he grew up near Ithaca, New York. He earned a degree in English in 1941 and then attended Cornell University studying medicine. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 at the beginning of World War II. He started his military training in the Army Specialized Training Program but due to manpower shortages was taken out of that program and sent to join the 78th Infantry Division in Europe. He was assigned to a mortar squad and rose through the ranks to Sergeant. He was one of the very few men who joined the unit early in the fighting and survived to return having fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the Remagen Bridgehead and many others. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant before being discharged in 1946. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge and three European Theater of Operation battle ribbons. Following discharge he returned to Cornell University completing his education 1948. After a short stint taking care of the family farm he entered into the broadcasting business. He worked for a time at WLW radio in Cincinnati before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana to join Avco Corporation operating a group of midwest radio stations in the early days of radio. He married Nancy Trueman Keyes in February of 1953. They had three children, Susan, Nancy and Jeanne. In 1964 he joined with Roy H. Park to build a media empire called Park Broadcasting, later renamed Park Communications where he held the title of Chief Operating Officer. He resigned in 1983 to pursue other business interests and to devote time to his other passions, writing and philanthropy. He was the author of three books: "Farmboy", "Taught to Kill" and "Sons in the Shadow" which he co-authored with Roy Park Junior. A documentary film based upon "Farmboy" and executive produced by his daughter was broadcast on the Public Broadcasting System and in 2007 received an Emmy award. John was a Director of Park Outdoor and a strong supporter of Cornell University. He was active in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS); Cornell Plantations, serving two years as Chairman; and the Johnson Museum. He was a co-founder of the Durland Lecture Series at the Johnson School of Management. He died in 2008 and was buried in Ithaca.