From the Stevens Point Journal April 17, 2009:

Running contest 'honor and joy' for Oz

By Andrew Stepan • Journal Staff • April 17, 2009

 "I'm just a dumb Italian boy from Chicago," said Jim "Oz" Oliva, a name that undoubtedly will be on the lips of most Trivia players this weekend.

Of course, Oliva is hardly dumb. Now in his 31st year with Trivia at WWSP 90-FM, Oliva serves as both coordinator and co-writer of the world's largest

John Eckendorf, left, and Jim “Oz” Oliva, standing in front of a table of Trivia merchandise, say they still enjoy writing the questions asked during the annual contest on WWSP 90-FM. (Doug Wojcik/Stevens Point Journal)

"Over the years, I've had so many experiences and so much fun," Oliva said. "It's an honor and a joy to know I can entertain these people for a weekend."

The annual 54-hour event begins today and is a fundraiser for the student-run radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Oliva, who started at 90-FM as a disc jockey in 1976, took over the job of writing questions in 1978, making him the "Oz" he is today.

"I enjoy doing the writing," Oliva said. "I've learned how to customize the questions over the years."

And while many assume writing questions for the contest has become more difficult with the advent of the Internet, Oliva said it's made the contest more difficult for contestants, not him.

"I write the Internet into the contest, not out," Oliva said.

However, Oliva doesn't do it alone. He not only has help from his writing partner, John Eckendorf, he also has the support of the 90-FM student staff.

"It's an excellent educational experience for the students running (trivia)," Oliva said. "It's a business."

Oliva said some of his favorite memories have come from working with the 90-FM executive staff, and he enjoys when old staff members come back to visit.

"We're kind of, in a way, an extended family," Oliva said.

Oliva cited some of his favorite experiences including a staff member who, one year, stayed in the same pair of pajamas for the entire weekend, and when, 28 years ago, he had the honor of telling a contestant that he was a father live on air.

"I just try to give them some fun," Oliva said.