Clifton Johnsen broke into radio at its very beginnings, joining Eureka station KIEM as an announcer in 1922.
His move to the Oakland Tribune station KLX brought with it a nickname: “Cactus Jack”, which Johnsen used during country-western broadcasts on KLX and later on San Jose’s KEEN.
Johnsen also handled sports play-by-play, calling the first season of San Francisco 49ers games.
Clifton Johnsen died in 1968 at age 70.