Bazil O'Hagan
Bazil, "Baz," O’Hagan, born September 24, 1928, in Detroit began his broadcast career as a chief engineer of WNDU Radio and TV in 1956 in South Bend, Indiana. He eventually ended up in top station management. He had positions in Flint, Lansing, and Battle Creek, Michigan, and Springfield, Illinois, before working at WNDU Radio and TV for 37 years. He worked his way up to station manager, president and general manager of Michiana Telecasting Corporation. He created the Golden Dome Productions, a television production unit with platforms for documentaries and other media.
"It was my responsibility to create and environment that would foster creativity," O'Hagan said.
O'Hagan enjoyed playing ice hockey growing up on the lake where he grew up. After graduating high school with a class of 42 students, he found himself less interested in traditional colleges and more in trade school. He attended DeForest Technical School in Chicago where he received a technical engineering degree. O'Hagan went on to graduate with his MBA degree from University of Notre Dame and became president of the first Executive MBA class at the university.
His first position in radio at Flint, Michigan, was attending to the transmitter. During that time, he aspired to have a role at a television station instead. He moved to WJIM radio and television in Lansing, making less money than his previous role but working with film projectors, slide projectors, network services and transmitters. He stayed there for three years, during which time he met his wife.
Next, O'Hagan was the chief engineer of UHF station in Battle Creek, a station which failed and fell off the air quickly. From there he became the chief engineer at H & E Valement Corporation in Chicago for three years.
O'Hagan got his first position in management as an assistant at WNDU after a general manager passed away. During his many years at WNDU, the station reported on the Vietnam War, former President John F. Kennedy's assassination and more.
"He was a good man, salt of the earth, many would say, and treated all his employees with respect and gratitude," according to a WNDU staff writer.
A passionate community member, O'Hagan volunteered as board chairman of St. Joseph Care and Goodwill Industries, was president of United Way and a member of the board at Holy Cross College where he encouraged students in math and science studies. He also guided tours at the Basiica of the Sacred Heart.
His hobbies included golf, hockey, ham radios, playing piano, and more. O'Hagan and his wife were Notre Dame sports fans as well as Cubs fans. He was particularly excited to see the Cubs win the World Series Championship in 2016. O’Hagan retired in 1993. He had a wife, who passed away in 2011, and six children, including a son and five daughters. O'Hagan also has 17 grandchildren. He died at age 88 in February 2017.
Luzane Draughon
Information from Indiana Broadcast Pioneers, WNDU, South Bend Tribune and "In the Public Interest"