Burgan, Jim

WXYZ: TV engineering, Technical Director and Supervisor

Jim joined WXYZ-TV in the 1950s, when the station was still operating from the Maccabees Building in downtown Detroit. He then moved with the station to the new Broadcast House facility on West 10 Mile Road in Southfield in 1959.

Obituary

James Burgan of Cheboygan, formerly of St. Clair Shores, died June 7 in Warren, Michigan. He became a member of the WXYZ-TV family in the studios of the Maccabees Building in downtown Detroit in the 1950’s. In 1959, all of WXYZ’s radio and television operations moved into a new broadcast facility at the Broadcast House on West 10 Mile Road in Southfield. He was actually one of the crew who did all the electronic wiring and equipment installation. WXYZ-TV at Channel 7 was Jim’s life and 2nd family. He served WXYZ in the heart of the Soupy Sales, Jonny Ginger and Rita Bell era. His entire career was at WXYZ, working his way up through the ranks to positions such as Camera Man and Video Tape Engineer, eventually retiring as Technical Director and Engineering Supervisor. You could tell, though, he loved being Camera Man the best. Jim and his late wife of 50 years, Shirley (Johnson), met in their childhood home of Marquette. They spent most of their married life raising their children in St. Clair Shores. Jim loved it “up north” and wanted to be on the shores of Lake Superior some day. He eventually built a beautiful home on Lake Huron with a view of the Straits and preferred being there most of the time. Most of his friends up north are known as “The Big Boy Crew” in Cheboygan. He loved to talk about them and they all became part of his extended family. He was also born to the water. Being a student at Northern Michigan University, he was an incredible swimmer, a talented water skiier, and an award winning diver. He joined the Navy and served in World War II in the South Pacific as an Ensign on a landing-craft in the Amphibious Unit in the Philippines. He was a very proud, patriotic man, and was honored that he had the opportunity to serve his country.

References:

• Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home – James Burgan Obituary

---