John Last
I began my broadcasting career in my hometown of Franklin where I served as the News Director at WFRA radio. I also worked for a short time at WKQW in Oil City. I was a political science major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and never believed I would be in the news business, especially television news.
After decades in the television news business in Erie, I was ready to retire but News Director Scott MacDowell gave me an offer I could not refuse. He asked me to stay and do special stories. Those stories would be sometimes unusual, sometimes thought-provoking, and sometimes heartwarming. My news segment called "The Last Word" was born in March 2021. It is broadcast Mondays and Fridays at 6pm. I'm having a lot of fun traveling throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania, Southwestern New York, and Northeastern Ohio to bring our viewers these stories.
I live in Erie with my wife Julie and our 5 cats. My two kids are all grown-up, but I still have a fondness for FIRST Robotics and Penn State.
I enjoy running and have completed 17 marathons. That was a long time ago. Now, I am completely happy finishing a 5K such as the annual Applefest race in Franklin. My wife and I keep busy exploring bike trails in the region and across the country. We also try to master recipes from the Great British Baking Show cookbooks.
I am active at Sacred Heart Parish in Erie and serve in the Knights of Columbus. I enjoy doing stand-up comedy for the Laughter in the Limelight fundraiser to benefit NAMI and the Mental Health Association of NW Pennsylvania. I am a small contributor to the Erie News Now Trivia Team that competes each year to benefit the Achievement Center. I proudly won the fantasy football championship at the TV station during its first year of existence about 20 years ago. I haven't won since.
Contact John at [email protected]