Background
Fetzer, John Earl was born on March 25, 1901 in Decatur, Indiana, United States. Son of John Adam and Della Frances (Winger) Fetzer.
Fetzer, John Earl was born on March 25, 1901 in Decatur, Indiana, United States. Son of John Adam and Della Frances (Winger) Fetzer.
Student, Purdue University, 1921. AB, Andrews University, 1927. Student, University Michigan, 1929.
Doctor of Laws, Western Michigan University, 1958. Doctor of Laws, Kalamazoo College, 1972. Doctor of Laws, Andrews University, 1980.
Doctor of Letters, Elizabethtown College, 1972. Doctor of Engineering, Lawrence Institute, 1972. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Purdue University, 1986.
Owner, Fetzer Broadcasting Svc., Michigan, 1970-1985;
Chairman of the Board, Fetzer Broadcasting Svc., Michigan, 1979-1985;
owner, Chairman of the Board, Cornhusker television Corporation, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1953-1985;
owner, Detroit Tigers Baseball Club, 1956-1983;
chairman emeritus, Detroit Tigers Baseball Club, 1990;
chairman, John E. Fetzer, Inc., from 1968;
chairman, Pro Am Sports Systems, Inc., 1983-1989. Food franchise executive. Chairman Major League television Committee, 1963-1971.
United States Censor of radio, 1944-1945. Reporting to General Eisenhower (engaged in European Theatre of Operations radio studies in), England, France, Russia, Germany, Italy and other European countries, 1945. Foreign correspondent radio-television-newspaper mission, Europe and Middle East, 1952.
Member mission Radio Free Europe, Munich, Germany, and Austrian-Hungarian border, 1956. Member Broadcasters Mission to Latin-American, Department State, 1962. Detroit Tiger Baseball tour of Japan, Okinawa, Korea, under auspices Department State, 1962.
Member A.P. tour, Europe, 1966. Department State delegate Japanese-United States television Treaty, 1972. Member of advisory board North America Svc., Radio Diffusion Française, Paris, 1946-1947.
Trustee Kalamazoo College, from 1954. Fellow Royal Society Arts London. Member National Association Broadcasters (chairman television board 1952, Distinguished Service award 1969), Chamber of Commerce (past president, Summit award 1977), National Genealogical Society, Academy Political Science, American Society Military Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (life member), International Radio and television Executives Society, Broadcast Pioneers (award 1968, 19th Mike award 1981), Park Club, Kalamazoo Country Club, Economic Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Press Club, Detroit Club, Tucson Country Club, Masons, Elks, Alpha Kappa Psi.
Married Rhea Maude Yeager, July 19, 1926.