Cadillac Jack was John Wheeler, a former bull rider and longtime farrier who began his radio career in his 50s. A chance encounter with KKCS-FM personalities Travis Daily and Uncle Steve at a Pueblo saloon sparked a fast friendship. KKCS hired him as a part-time announcer in 1998; he later took over the full-time evening slot and stayed through 2003.
Wheeler then hosted mornings at KSTY-FM, Star Country in Cañon City, through 2021. He died on January 7, 2022. A community tribute shared with the archive recalls his folksy humor and nighttime requests-and-dedications show as a fixture for Colorado Springs teenagers in the 1980s, and describes his ratings among the highest in local radio history; a period ratings book has not yet been located.
Career and passing source: The Pueblo Chieftain obituary search for John Wheeler, supplied with this archive update.
KKCS
A December 13, 2002 Radio & Records issue identifies Cadillac Jack specifically as a KKCS/Colorado Springs air personality. A published station photograph shows him with KKCS Program Director Shannon Stone and Keith Burns of country group Trick Pony.
The Colorado Radio Archive also preserves an approximately 2001 KKCS backstage photograph at Cowboys in Colorado Springs that includes Cadillac Jack among station staff with country artist Terri Clark. Together, the trade photo and archive material place him at KKCS across at least the early-2000s station era.
Identity note
“Cadillac Jack” has been used by multiple radio personalities in different U.S. markets. This Colorado Springs broadcaster is cataloged separately from the archive’s John Wheeler profile associated with a 1957 KTLN executive listing; no evidence currently links the two people.
Colorado station
Sources
- Radio & Records, December 13, 2002 — photo caption identifying Cadillac Jack as a KKCS/Colorado Springs air personality.
- Colorado Radio Archive, “Staff” — KKCS backstage photograph
Stations They Worked At
FROM THE TIMELINE
Career Moments
Cadillac Jack hired part time at KKCS
Cadillac Jack (John Wheeler) began his Colorado Springs radio career as a part-time announcer at KKCS-FM. The exact hiring date in 1998 is not reported.
Cadillac Jack’s KKCS tenure ends
Cadillac Jack remained at Colorado Springs country station KKCS-FM through 2003. His exact last broadcast date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack established in KKCS full-time evenings
By the end of his KKCS-FM tenure in 2003, Cadillac Jack had moved from part-time announcing to the full-time evening slot. The promotion date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack moves to Star Country KSTY mornings
After his reported 2003 departure from KKCS, Cadillac Jack became the morning host on Cañon City’s Star Country KSTY-FM. The transition year is approximate; the exact start date is not given.
Cadillac Jack’s KSTY morning-show tenure ends
Cadillac Jack worked as morning host at Star Country KSTY-FM through 2021. The exact final broadcast date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack (John Wheeler) dies
John “Cadillac Jack” Wheeler died on January 7, 2022. His Colorado radio work included KKCS-FM in Colorado Springs and Star Country KSTY-FM in Cañon City.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Photos, Video & Airchecks
Photo · 2000
Cadillac Jack & Kevin Willz
Cadillac Jack and Kevin Willz at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming.
Photo · 1998
Cadillac Jack Halloween
Halloween with Cadillac Jack (General Custer) and Uncle Steve (The Crocodile Hunter)
KEEP EXPLORING
Go further down the dial
HELP IMPROVE THE ARCHIVE
See something that needs a correction?
Suggest a correction or add information to this person. Nothing changes publicly until it is reviewed.