Mike Worzala 

Those who don’t know Mike too well may display a certain look of bewilderment when he has something to say at Council meetings--”Why does that voice sound so familiar?”  Chances are, they have heard it sometime since around 1980 when the voice of Mike Austin became an increasingly familiar part of Green Bay’s mornings as an on-air personality at WGEE AM.  Mike Worzala (Austin is his middle name) came to the Knights a few years ago at the invitation of Roger Shaha, though he points out it was also due to the ‘patient persistence’ of Fr. Al Lis and Harry Christensen as well.  One of the reasons he took his time about joining up is that he didn’t want to be a member of the organization in name only, and a very busy lifestyle would keep him away from meetings and activities of the Knights.

 

Mike remembers a great uncle, since deceased, who was a part of the Knights of Columbus, and, as with so many others, the images that stuck are the regalia of the Fourth Degree.  He remembers his uncle saying something like, “Sometime in your life, be a Knight.”  Since becoming a part of the fraternity, Mike has taken part in most of the meetings of the Council and has helped out in the Tootsie Roll drive.  He also responded favorably to Randy Barrett’s invitation to serve the Council in the office of Chancellor.  While still learning what the responsibilities of his office are, he definitely appreciates the Christian fellowship and camaraderie in the Council, and especially the fact that they really seem to make a difference through their activities.

 

A native of Northeast Iowa, Mike moved to the Milwaukee area and then on to Madison where he not only earned a degree in Communication Arts from UW-Madison, but met his wife, Connie.  After working in Waterloo, Iowa and Oshkosh as an announcer and Ag reporter, Mike came to Green Bay in 1980.  His typical day begins at about 3:15 AM when he takes the dogs out.  Usually getting to the station around 4:30 AM, he works on reports and show preparation as well as handling a feed to Wausau.  He’s on the air from 5:30 until 9:00 AM and also does a noon report.  After that, there’s duties of shift scheduling, interviews and lining up guests.  A work day is usually 11-12 hours.  In the rare opportunities he has to relax, he enjoys spending time with his family as well as golf and working with youth, especially in the Bellevue Youth league.  He’s also been involved with a Radio Scouts Explorer group, FFA and 4-H and he is honored to be receiving FFA’s top honor to non-members.  A member of St. Bernard Parish, Mike serves as a lector and hospitality minister.

 

Mike and Connie will be married 24 years in February and have three children--Matt (18), John (17) and Kate (12).

 

October 1998