WXYZ: TV engineering, Technical Director and Supervisor, Jim Burgan.
Jim Burgan joined WXYZ-TV in the 1950s, when the station was still operating from the Maccabees Building in downtown Detroit. He moved with the station to the new Broadcast House 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 is also known as Jim Burgan, and he became a member of the WXYZ-TV family in the studios of the Maccabees Building in downtown Detroit in the 1950s.
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 Burgan’s life and 2nd family. He served WXYZ in the heart of the Soupy Sales, Jonny Ginger and Rita Bell era. His early days behind the cameras shaped his approach to television, teaching him to stay calm under pressure and to value precise timing.
His entire career was at WXYZ, working his way up through the ranks to positions such as Camera Man and Video Tape Engineer, ultimately retiring as Technical Director and Engineering Supervisor. He remained loyal to the station, and you could tell he loved being Camera Man the best.
Overview
Jim Burgan and his late wife, 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 hoped to be on the shores of Lake Superior someday.
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 was also born to the water. While at Northern Michigan University, he proved himself an incredible swimmer, a talented water skiier, and an award winning diver, earning the respect of coaches and teammates. Those qualities followed him into later life and shaped his love of outdoor recreation.
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. His service reflected his integrity and discipline, and he remained a very proud, patriotic man, honored that he had the opportunity to serve his country.
References:
- Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home – James Burgan Obituary
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