Known to the WRTA radio audience as “Dr. John,” John D McGinnis, Ph.D. has hosted talk radio shows for more than 10 years. “Every show is a challenge and an opportunity to talk about something that’s interesting and to do it in an entertaining way,” is how Dr. John views the Open Mic program on WRTA.

Although it’s not well-known, Dr. John was born and lived in Latrobe, PA, until 8 years old. The next 10 years of his life were spent in a suburb of Philadelphia, but he survived nonetheless and was able to attend the University of Notre Dame.  After graduating in 1976, he taught 7th and 8th grade history and mathematics at Christ the King School in South Bend, Indiana, until 1984. He also coached 7th and 8th grade basketball and is widely regarded as the greatest 7th and 8th grade basketball coach in history. 

After serving as a university administrator at Notre Dame, Dr. John earned his Ph.D. in finance at Penn State University in 1993. He retired from Penn State in 2012 as an Associate Professor of Finance Emeritus.  In 2012, Dr. McGinnis was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly defeating a 34-year incumbent.  He served honorably for 3 terms, which is to say, he experienced six years of great misery. His therapist has recommended writing about that time in his life and a book titled, “Emails from the 8^th Circle of Hell,” is in process.

Dr. John’s great loves are baseball, Classic Coke, everything written by Leo Tolstoi, and dogs [most especially the Borzoi–his nine canine companions are all waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge]. His pet peeves are politicians, un-American football (soccer), and writing about himself in the third person.