Clifton Johnsen

BARHOF Inductee Clifton Johnsen 2009

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.