We’re back for the finale of our 30 Stories for 30 Years series! Our special guest for this interview? None other than John Williams! We spoke with John as we looked back on 30 years in the Middle of Everywhere for this special feature. Extra special about today (05/28/26), is the all-day WGN radio takeover! All day, you can hear special features about Ottawa on WGN. And just yesterday, “Your Hometown Revisited” released. Since 2024, Ottawa had the privilege of being the most viewed Your Hometown feature.

With our 30th anniversary and a radio takeover in mind, we asked John to regale us with the story of how he first came to know and fall in love with Ottawa. If you’ve never heard this one, you’re in for a treat.

“I fell in love with Ottawa because I fell in love with a girl. My (now) wife Brenda and I used to meet at the Beehive Café in Ottawa for Sunday breakfasts.  I was living in Sandwich, she in Pekin.  We were college sweethearts and after graduation, would meet there,” John said, “I’ve had a warm spot in my heart for the place ever since.  Then years – many years later – we were looking for a lake house. Or a cottage somewhere.  It was the pandemic and we were stifled in our Chicago condo by Wrigley Field.  Love living in the city, but we needed a break from it, too.  I drew a 90-mile radius from where we were, and Ottawa was 89 miles aways.  A few clicks later, I saw our current home, drove out, peeked in the windows…. and here we are.”

Ottawa has a distinct charm about the town, a vibe you really can’t find anywhere else. Much work has been done by individuals and groups over the years, which has culminated in the Ottawa we know and love today. The many intersections of tourism and other fields of work have certainly contributed to the creation of the Middle of Everywhere identity for the Friendly City. (Check out the rest of the series for more on that). We spoke with John on what tourism means to him, for a town like Ottawa.

“It’s critical.  Smaller cities can survive, but to thrive they need to be attractive, not just to the locals.  Every week I hear from WGN Radio listeners who say ‘We drove out to Ottawa.  Loved the town!’  Those are dollars that would not otherwise be spent in our restaurants, stores, and events.  I don’t see a population boom coming, but I also see the size of the city growing and the qualities of the city ever improving,” John said.

As tourism grows, it offers more amenities for locals and tourists alike. That is especially apparent when you see how many activities, places, and events Ottawa offers to the area. Since we’re feeling so retrospective, we asked John if he could speak on his history and relationship with the OVC.

“I’m not exactly sure how I came to be a radio spokesman for the town and area. Obviously our owning a home here was a good fit; I talk about my life experiences on the air,” he said,  “But some smart people decided to capitalize on that by buying ads on WGN Radio – one of the biggest news/talk stations in America.  That combination has been powerful.”

We also have Kevin McDonough from WGN Radio and former OVC Director Curt Bedei to thank for this wonderful partnership. Without their work getting it started, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Ottawa is home to a rich assortment of events and attractions that create that “Middle of Everywhere” feeling. Many of them have been around for decades. We next asked John if he could pinpoint a favorite one from throughout the years.

“We’ve enjoyed the Santa Parade, and PRIDE, and Saturday Music in the Park in the summer.  Anyone coming to visit us knows they will be taken to the Sainte. Genevieve River Boat.  I go to all the OTHS games I can – baseball, softball, football, basketball.  I think Kite Fest is a great idea and the parade of souped-up cars at night in the summer, Cruise Night, is really terrific,” said John, “And there is no doubt that the restaurants and bars in town are an event onto themselves.  Don’t underestimate the value of those merchants!”

We think John absolutely nails it here. Ottawa’s events, attractions, restaurants, and shops provide a colorful backdrop for a trip into town. Especially with summer just around the corner, there’s lots of excitement to be had in Ottawa. We asked John if there are any former events or attractions he’d like to see return, or if he would prefer to see something new in town.

“Not necessarily.  I am continually amazed at how many events the city DOES do.  I’ve wondered how everyone would feel if there were a few fewer events.  When I’m trying to pull people into the city, I want us to put our best foot forward.  So, let’s host and promote events that we know will shine,” he said.

We like to say that there’s something for everyone in Ottawa. Whether you’re interested in events, arts, music, history, and more, you’ll find it in the Middle of Everywhere. Things in a town like Ottawa are always changing and evolving. We can’t say for certain what future events will look like. But one thing we do know for certain, is that great things will continue to come out of Ottawa and its creative community. We can’t wait to see what might happen next! To round out our interview, we asked John if he had any closing thoughts on Ottawa’s future.  

“Ottawa should be a model for cities everywhere.  Its footprint in the region is outsized.  Towns with 200,000 don’t promote or perform as well as this community of 20,000. It’s not just nice to live here, it’s a privilege to live in and promote this smart, fun, charming town,” John said.

Many thanks to John, Kevin, and all our friends at WGN Radio. We hope you’ve enjoyed this interview series and this special edition. We’re a little past our 30th birthday now, but the experiences from working together with the community, partners in tourism, and everyone else who has been along for the ride, that’s something we’ll be holding onto for years to come.