John has a clock repair business in western Nebraska, where he has lived most of his life. He makes parts for his hand-built clocks when he is not buried under a pile of old cuckoo clocks. While he usually turns no broken clock away, he prefers to work on old clocks, most preferably those made before he was (1943). His favorite type of clock to repair is "Grandma's Seth Thomas." He is entirely self-taught.

He is an AWI Certified Master Clockmaker. Hobbies are competitive racewalking, cycling, running and doing sprint triathlons. Also, electronics - he's a licenced amateur radio operator, AC0CX. Also, reading Russian literature in the original language. And, at 65 he's learning to knit --to date he has made two sweaters and numerous small articles.

He received a bachelors's degree in philosophy from the University of Nebraska in 1965, with minors in Russian and anthropology. In another life, he was an Assistant Editor for COMPUTE! Magazine. A friend says he also has a Ph.D in bachelorhood.

He received the Dana Blackwell Award for excellence in clockmaking in 2005. It is the highest honor bestowed on clockmakers by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

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