John Zavadil, polka DJ at KCTI Gonzales has discontinued his polka show due to health concerns. John, known as "Mister John" by his listeners underwent gall bladder surgery and complications and had spent time at Gonzales Memorial. Methodist San Antonio and New Braunfels Regional Rehabilitation hospitals. The 1450 Polka Club with the most "live" polka music in Texas for 17 years, five days a week, three hours a day.
In a statement issued by KCTI 1450 Program Director Egon Barthels said, "Mister John will be dearly missed by all of us. I want to thank John for his many years of service to KCTI AM 1450 and the Gonzales County community. We have enjoyed many great moments with Mister John as the host of the 1450 Polka Club. Mister John was also a huge asset in helping gather community news, rainfall reports, birthdays and anniversaries, obits as well as helping with day-to-day operations at the station."
John received the Texas Polka Music Awards (TPMA) Polka DJ of the year in 1996 and was nominated again in 1997.
John is of Czech, German and Swiss heritage. He served his country for 10 years with the 36th Infantry Division Army NG at Fort Hood and Fort Polk obtaining the rank of Sgt E-5.
John taught public school 30 years, all in Gonzales County, never using a "sick leave" day.
John married Erlene Kubečka Pšenčík December 17, 1997 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gonzales.
A very proud moment for John and Erlene was receiving the 100 years Family Land Heritage certificate presented to the Zavadil Ranch south of Gonzales from Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on November 8, 2012. The ranch was founded in 1910 by Inocenz Zavadil.
I will miss Mister John's polka show. He was one of the first to get onboard with what I was trying to do in establishing polkabeat.com. He promoted my site and helped Jimmy Brosch and I sell lots of our book -- Jimmy Brosch Remembers Twenty Legendary Texas Czech Bands. It would be a shame to not play the impressive library of music Mister John built. That's why I was glad to get an email from Egon saying the polka tradition continues with the KCTI-AM 1450 Polka Club airing between 5 and 7 PM every day. He says the reason for the time change is because it was the only way he could conduct his daily operation duties but still keep the tradition of having polka music on KCTI-AM 1450. AND I was glad to hear he still does "Dance Dates" from polkabeat.com just like Mister John! Thanks Egon and thanks for keeping polka alive on KCTI! For more information go to kcti1450.com.