John Harlan Rook, 78

John Harlan Rook, 78, passed away March 1, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born Oct. 9, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

John enjoyed life and helping others tremendously! The radio and music industries were his lifelong passion. He also enjoyed riding his horses on his ranch.

He is survived by his children, Diana Vassos and Clifford Rook, David Rook; grandchildren: Logan Lee (Texas), Lindsay Lee (Nebraska) and Matthew Rook (Georgia); sister Dorothy Rook of Coeur d’Alene; nephew Jason Rook of Coeur d’Alene and brother Charles (Rowe) Rook of Spokane. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys Pullman (Milliken — maiden name); stepmother Della Rook; father Gordon Rook and son David Rook.

John Rook was born in Ohio and raised in Nebraska. He has enjoyed a successful career in radio broadcasting, first as a disc jockey and then as one of the nation’s most respected program directors.

A chance meeting with actor Burt Lancaster introduced Rook to the Pasadena Playhouse, where he attended class with Natalie Wood, James Dean, SalMineo and Nick Adams. His brief film career included parts in “My Man Godfrey” with June Allyson and David Niven and the Wild Bill Hickok television series with Guy Madison and Andy Devine.

It was Tennessee Ernie Ford and John’s teenage friend, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Cochran, who encouraged Rook to enter radio as a disc jockey with the name “Johnny Rowe.”

In the early 1960s, following stints at KTLN-Denver and KALL-Salt Lake City, John was named Director of Programming at ABC owned KQV-Pittsburgh. It was there that he introduced, via airplay and in concert, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, The Supremes, Neil Diamond and many others who became legendary stars of today.

In 1967, he was named Director of Programming for WLS-Chicago, where under his leadership the station reached its highest ratings ever, rated No. 1 with a total audience of 3.8 million weekly. While at WLS, broadcasters nationally named him “Radio’s Man of the Year” and “Program Director of the Year.”

In the 1970s, John Rook & Associates provided programming expertise to more than 30 radio stations nationally including WCFL-Chicago; Y-100-Miami; KRBE-Houston; z93-Atlanta; KTKT-Tucson and KROY-Sacramento as he was named “Radio Consultant of the Year.”

He was also Program Director of KFI-Los Angeles and KABC-Los Angeles.

In the mid-1980s, John became the owner of radio stations in the Northwest, divesting himself of those facilities in the late 1990s.

John also is the creator of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame and Hit Parade Radio. Those entities will continue in his memory.

An article was written about John Rook’s life in last Friday’s Coeur d’Alene Press: bit.ly/1LaJMPw.

More about John Rook, as well as many of his life stories at his website: www.johnrook.com.

Before his passing John wrote a “Final Thoughts.” It simply said: “To those I leave behind, thank you for being so kind.”

May his memory be eternal!

Memorial contributions can be made online at gofundme.com/johnrook.

John requested no official funeral or service but, a private family gathering will be held in his honor.