Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan - Mar 1951)

NAB ELECTIONS Board Changes Announced Runoff Contest EIGHT changes have been made in the NAB board of directors as a result of the elections for odd-numbered districts and at-large positions. Results of the balloting were announced last week by C. E. Arney Jr., NAB secretary-treasurer. Four present board members were re-elected. In a number of cases, incumbent directors were not eligible for re-election because of an NAB by-laws clause that limits service to two consecutive terms. One tie developed in the balloting. John Esau, KTUL Tulsa, incumbent director-at-large for medium stations, had the same number of votes as Hugh B. Terry, KLZ Denver, who retired last year as District 14 director under the twoterm rule. Runoff election will be completed as soon as possible in the case of the Esau-Terry contest. Another board post remains in doubt — election of a successor in District 8 (Ind., Mich.) to George J. Higgins, WISH Indianapolis, who resigned from the board last month when he moved to KMBC Kansas City. Ballots are to go out this week for nominations. After that the final election will be held. It will be completed by early April. Re-elected to the board were Glenn Shaw, KLX Oakland, who had no opposition in District 15; John H. DeWitt Jr., WSM Nashville, director-at-large for large stations; Edgar Kobak, director-atlarge for small stations; Ben Strouse, WWDC-FM Washington, director-at-large for FM stations. Messrs. DeWitt, Kobak and Strouse are completing their first one-year terms under revised NAB by-laws. New directors elected to the board were: District 1 (New England) — Craig Lawrence, WCOP Boston, succeeding Paul W. Morency, WTIC Hartford. District 3 (Pa., Del., W. Va., Md. in part) — Leonard Kapner, WCAE Pittsburgh, succeeding George D. Coleman, WGBI Scranton, Pa., ineligible. District 5 (Ala., Fla., Ga., P. R., V. I.)— Thad Holt, WAPI Birmingham, unopposed, succeeding Allen M. Woodall, WDAK Columbus, Ga., who declined nomination. District 7 (Ky., Ohio)— Robert T. Mason, WMRN Marion, Ohio, succeeding Gilmore N. Nunn, WLAP Lexington, Ky., ineligible. District 9 (111., Wis.)— Merrill Lindsay, WSOY Decatur, 111., succeeding Charles C. Caley, WMBD Peoria, 111., ineligible. District 11 (Minn., N. D., S. D. in part)— H. W. Linder, KWLM Willmar, Minn., unopposed, succeeding John F. Meagher, KYSM Mankato, Minn., ineligible. District 13 (Tex.) — Kenyon Brown, KWFT Wichita Falls, suc ceeding Clyde Rembert, KRLD Dallas, ineligible. District 15 (Calif., Nev. in part; T. H.) — Mr. Shaw re-elected. District 17 (Alaska, Ore., Wash.) — H Quenton Cox, KGW Portland, Ore., elected last August at district meeting to succeed Harry R. Spence, KXRO Aberdeen, Wash., ineligible. Even-numbered districts hold Re-elected to the NAB Board . . their elections in even-numbered years. Serving the second year of twoyear terms on the board as directors-at-large, starting at the NAB convention in April, are James D. Shouse, WLW Cincinnati, for large stations; A. D. Willard Jr., WGAC Augusta, Ga., for medium stations; Patt McDonald, WHHM Memphis, for small stations; Frank U. Mr. Esau Mr. Terry Mr. Kobak Mr. Strouse Mr. DeWitt Fletcher, WARL-FM Arlingto Va., for FM stations. The TV-at-large directorat were eliminated under recent b laws revision. Robert D. Sweze WDSU-TV New Orleans, and E: gene S. Thomas, WOR-TV Ne York, no longer are NAB boa members, but have been elected the separate TV board (see 1 board story page 55). Voting picked up toward the fin days of the elections, resulting a cumulative 72% return from t membership for the 13 vacanci on the 26-member board. NEWLY ELECTED NAB BOARD MEMBERS Kenyon Brown KENYON BROWN is a new director with benefit of past board service. He first joined the board in 1949 as director-at-large for medium stations but returns after a year's absence to represent District 13. He is president of KWFT Wichita Falls, Tex., and previously was at KOMA Oklahoma City, serving NAB in various roles with both stations. Born in 1913 in Kansas City, he taught for a while at First National Radio & Television School and still holds a first class ticket. Radio career includes engineer-announcer at former KXBY Kansas City; announcer at KCKN Kansas City; announcer and sportscaster at Iowa Broadcasting Co. stations; active in sales at KVOO Tulsa, and then general manager at KOMA. Mr. Brown gon, he went to the Portland Oregonian as a classified salesman, later moving to Sherman Clay & Co. in 1927 as bookkeeper and then to Meier & Frank Co., Portland's largest department store, as assistant advertising manager. After seven years at the store, he joined KGW in merchandising and promotion, advancing to program director, assistant general manager and in 1946 to general manager. He is a member of the NAB AM Committee. During the war he held top advisory posts in Treasury bond drives. Mr. Kapner H Quenton Cox H QUENTON COX, general of KGW Portland, Ore., brings to the NAB board extensive radio and advertising experience. He was elected to the board at a District 17 meeting last August, being the only member not elected at the recent balloting. Mr. Cox was born in 1906 at Murdoch, Neb. After studying pre-med at Willamette U., in Ore Mr. Cox Thad Holt THAD HOLT, who had no opposition in the District 5 election, is president treasurer of Voice of \ I a ha ma I n c, *m*JB B i r m i n g h a m (WAPI-AM-FMTV). Born in 1 89 8, he was graduated in 1920 with AB degree from Colorado College. He spent a score of years in advertising and sales work before getting into radio. He has held many important public positions, including assistant national administrator of the WPA in Washington. Other activities — vice president and halfowner of Famous Features Syndicate; consultant with Swann Chemical Co. ; chairman of the board, Birmingham branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. This is his first NAB board service but he has served on committees. dio 20 years ago at WCAE Pit burgh and h been there e\ since, holding t position of pre dent since 19." Born in N e York in 1903, went to eveni school at U. Pennsylvania a later attended t Pitt b u s i n e | school. Duri the '20s he sold space in Pittsbur publications, joining WCAE in 19 as salesman and continuity writ' In four years he had become sa~ manager, a few months later gt eral manager and soon preside: He represented WCAE on the M\ board until it joined ABC. Sir 1942 he has been a director of Bl\ In 1944 he added the job of Heai Radio Inc. general manager, resig ing in 1946 to confine his activit to WCAE. He is active in Pit: burgh civic and radio affairs a served on many radio committe Mr. Holt Leonard Kapner LEONARD KAPNER entered ra Craig Lawrence CRAIG LAWRENCE, executi vice president and general manag of WCOP Bost< will soon reach t 20-year mark broadcasting — of it spent wf the Cowles groi He became intt ested in advert ing while stuc ing journalism Iowa State and turned the terest into a < reer in 1926 by joining Pauli C Des Moines, known at that tii as Continental Adv. Service. (Continued on page SU) Mr. Lawrence Page 22 • February 26, 1951 BROADCASTING • Telecastii