Jim Packard

Jim Packard's life in radio began when he was 15 years old. He won a teenage DJ contest on WIBU, in Poynette, Wisconsin. That led to a part-time job that he held through high school. Following military service and a short stint selling insurance at his father's insurance company, he went back to the station. He went on to work at commercial stations throughout southern Wisconsin before finally landing at Wisconsin Public Radio in 1981.

In his 27 years at WPR, he held many different positions. He began as a news reader, and moved on to reporter, talk show producer and host, Morning Edition host, producer and fill-in host of the WPR program, Conversations with Larry Meiller, and in 1985 his life in radio changed forever when Michael Feldman asked him to be part of a new comedy quiz show, Whad'Ya Know? The show became a national hit and, through it, Jim helped millions of listeners pass their weekends with a smile.

"Jim was my only successful long-term relationship," Michael said. "He was simply the best and irreplaceable.” For 27 years, Jim kept Whad'Ya Know? on time and Michael on track. He kept score and awarded prizes for the quiz and took listeners to the "Town of the Week." He stood by Michael's side, taking the jabs and barbs of the host with grace. His final performance was a live Whad'Ya Know? broadcast from New York City on June 9, 2012.