Jack Hackman dies at 85
By Hub City Times staff
MARSHFIELD — Funeral services will be held July 14 for a former community leader and one-time general manager of Marshfield’s WDLB radio station.
Jack Hackman was a Pittsville native who began working as an engineer at WDLB in 1953, and advanced to program director and sports director in the early 1960s. He was the voice of Marshfield Senior High School Tigers and Columbus High School Dons sporting events for many years. He became station manager in 1965 and general manager in 1970. In 1981, he was named Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Goetz Broadcasting Corporation and was responsible for the operation of all 15 Goetz stations in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan until his official retirement in 1999.
He was elected to three terms as alderman of the 10th ward for the city of Marshfield. Hackman also made many contributions to the community during his long public service career. He served as president of the Columbus High School Board of Education from 1968 to 1978; president of the United Way Drive in 1976 and 1980; and president of the Marshfield Public Library Board from 1980 to 1986. He was president of the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce for three terms in 1976, 1989, and 1990.
Hackman was also involved with the broadcast industry, serving two terms on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1985 to 1990. He served as President of the WBA in 1989 and 1990, during which time he directed the establishment of the Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame and the WBA Foundation. He himself was elected to that Hall of Fame in 1995.
Hackman was chairman of the $5 million drive for the Lawton National Research Center. He was the master of ceremonies at numerous banquets and events, and delivered the commencement address for Columbus High School in 1989.
He also spearheaded fundraising for the construction of what is now Jack Hackman Field, in 2002.
See full obituary for Hackman in the obituary section.
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