John M. Sherman

Inducted 2011

John M. Sherman was born on January 23, 1907. At age 15, he was licensed and operating ham radio as “8CEJ” in Pittsburgh. In 1927 he graduated from Carnegie Tech in electrical engineering. From there he went to work for the FCC in Chicago before being moved to St. Paul. In 1937, he began working for WTCN in Minneapolis. After serving in the Army Air Corps, he returned to Minneapolis to launch WCCO as a television station. John was credited with bringing the first weather radar of its kind to the Twin Cities, installed on the Foshay Tower. He engineered the “Sherman Tank,” a remote pick-up vehicle with video tape recording used at Vikings and Twins games. He facilitated the station’s switch from black and white to color television and led WCCO’s team of engineers for the first live intercontinental satellite TV broadcast via TelStar. He also participated in the construction of the antenna farm in Shoreview, which at that time was the “highest point in Minnesota.” After retiring in 1971, he received the prestigious NAB Engineering Award for his numerous achievements throughout his career.

John and his wife, Wanda, had 4 sons. John passed away on July 5, 1982.