Award Recipients

Hugh Berkley Terry 1956 Paul White Award Recipient

HUGH BERKLEY TERRY

Biography provided by his family

Hugh Berkley Terry--who died November 28, 1987, at the age of 78--was one of the giants of American broadcasting.

When he arrived at KLZ radio in 1941, Terry assembled a bright young staff whose activities filled the station's offices with awards. He donated his own time to numerous civic and charitable organizations. Among an impressive list of activities that swelled his national reputation, he was a director of the National Association of Broadcasters.

One of his lasting accomplishments was to write a series of editorials in 1955 that led to the opening of Colorado courtrooms to cameras and tape recorders. It confirms a statement by Vincent Wasilewski, a former president of the NAB, that "Terry is a leader who has always argued vehemently for broadcasting's rights to editorialize."

As a sparkplug on the NAB and BMB directorates, a member of the NAB Industry-Wide Code Observance Committee and the sole American broadcaster invited to UNESCO Program Commission Conference, Terry played a unique role in industry activity. He spearheaded drives and campaigns for the Community Chest, Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Cancer Society, Rotary Club and YMCA.

Denver television viewers rewarded his courage and creativity. Channel 7, owned by Time Inc. for most of his tenure, rode high in the ratings--No. 1 for 20 years, through his retirement in 1974.

He had a sense that few other managers had at the time. Many television managers--even today--come up through the business side of broadcasting. Terry was a journalist; he understood journalism and journalistic ethics. He was often referred to as "Mr. Broadcasting," but the title embarrassed him.