Clair McCollough

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Clair R. McCollough (January 15, 1904 – November 30, 1995) was an American broadcasting executive. He worked for 44 years as an executive for the Steinman Stations company and at its flagship station, WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was also involved in the foundation of Broadcast Music, Inc., and with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). During his career, McCollough received a Distinguished Service Award from the NAB in 1959 and the Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service in 1980.

Life[edit]

McCollough was born in York, Pennsylvania in the early 1900s as the son of A. E. McCollough.[1] At the age of eight, he was run over by a horse and buggy while playing in the middle of a York street.[2] At the age of 10, he was a carrier boy for Lancaster Newspapers, owned by the Steinman family; he later worked in newspaper offices in high school and college.[3] After graduating from Millersville State Normal School, where he played on the football team,[4] he started his career as a classified advertising salesman for Lancaster Newspapers.[5][1]

The Steinmans branched into broadcasting in 1929, and McCollough moved with them. After starting as manager of the two Steinman outlets in Wilmington, Delaware, WDEL and WILM,[3] by 1932, he was the general manager of York station WORK.[6] Two years later, he had been promoted to general manager of the Mason Dixon Radio Group,[7] with stations at Lancaster, York and Hazleton as well as the two in Wilmington.[8] The group grew to seven outlets by 1944, having expanded into Easton and Harrisburg.[9] By the late 1940s, he was president of WGAL radio and television, a post he would hold until his retirement.[10]

In the late 1930s and 1940s, McCollough's career began to include more prominent state and national positions. In 1938, the NAB elected him as a director, which began a lengthy involvement with the association.[11] A year later, he served on the copyright committee that oversaw the creation of performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc.[1][12] He presided over the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, the first state association of its kind, from 1940[13] to 1945.[14] At the NAB, he served on various committees.[15] By 1955, he had been elected to the NAB board more times than any other individual.[16] McCollough also served as the group's president in 1958.[17]

McCollough was also active within the NBC network with which WGAL radio and television were affiliated, chairing the NBC stations planning and advisory committee.[18] He also took part of the founding of the Television Bureau of Advertising[19] and was the president of Broadcasters' Foundation, Inc., in the 1960s.[20] The NAB presented McCollough with its Distinguished Service Award, one of its highest honors, in December 1959.[14] Days later, he was named to a commission created to clean up the radio and television industries in the wake of the 1950s quiz show scandals and other controversies.[19]

Two years later, when the radio and television boards of the NAB were unified, he was unanimously elected chairman and served in that post for two years.[17] McCollough retired from all of his positions—president of WGAL, president of the Steinman Stations, and president of Steinman's cable television division—in 1974.[17] After retiring, he became a consultant to Steinman[17] and was named vice-chairman of WGAL radio and television.[21]

Personal life and death[edit]

In addition to his broadcasting involvement, McCollough served as president of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce[22] and was active in a myriad of civic and business organizations in Lancaster.[17] A member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), McCollough served on its long-range planning committee[16] and chaired its Department of Radio and Television.[23] McCullough was honored with the Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service in 1980.[12]

After having been active on the Millersville state normal school's council of trustees from 1936 to 1942, a $200,000 gift from McCullough in 1985 established a broadcasting center at the now-university,[24] and a scholarship was also established in his name at the university.[25] McCullough married Velma A. Dilworth in 1926 and had one daughter; Dilworth died in 1982.[26] McCullough died in Lancaster on November 30, 1995.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Saxon, Wolfgang (December 3, 1995). "Clair McCollough, 92, Executive Who Repaired TV's Reputation". New York Times. p. 57. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Team Runs Over Boy On Street". The Gazette. April 10, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Who's Who on the NAB-TV Board" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 29, 1951. p. 25. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Andrews Shakes-Up Millersville Team". Lancaster News Journal. November 2, 1922. p. 8. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "Social And Personal". Intelligencer Journal. January 21, 1929. p. 18. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "A. B. C. Hears Talk On Radio Work". Lancaster New Era. August 16, 1932. p. 9. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "Hit By Truck". Lancaster New Era. July 12, 1934. p. 18. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. ^ "West Junior Assembly". Intelligencer Journal. April 30, 1935. p. 21. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "High Frequency Station Awaits FCC Okay". The Morning Call. March 13, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "Gets Citation: Clair R. McCollough Awarded Showmanager Plaque For Outstanding Achievements". Intelligencer Journal. May 26, 1950. pp. 1, 40. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "McCollough Elected By Broadcast Group". Intelligencer Journal. February 16, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "McCollough Honored for Broadcasting Leadership". Lancaster New Era. December 19, 1980. pp. 45, 19. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "Penna. Discusses Music Problems" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 15, 1940. p. 32. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Clair McCollough Given Top Award By Broadcasters". Intelligencer Journal. December 4, 1959. pp. 1, 31. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  15. ^ "NAB Prepares for Total War Operation" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 3, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Clair M'Collough To Get Degree At F&M Graduation". Intelligencer Journal. May 3, 1955. p. 3. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Clair McCollough Retires at WGAL". Lancaster New Era. July 1, 1974. pp. 42, 34. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "NBC Convention: 400 Scheduled to Attend" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 9, 1950. p. 54. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "McCollough Named to Post On TV Cleanup". Lancaster New Era. December 9, 1959. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "McCollough elected" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 29, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  21. ^ "Harry Shaub Jr. Elected President of WGAL-TV". Intelligencer Journal. December 13, 1975. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  22. ^ "C. of C. Sponsors Parley on National Affairs". Lancaster New Era. September 12, 1947. p. 22. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  23. ^ "Churchmen Told TV, Radio Offer Challenge To Extend Ministry". Intelligencer Journal. January 10, 1956. p. 24. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  24. ^ Byrne, Joe (August 21, 1985). "MU Receives $200,000 Gift To Establish Broadcast Center". Lancaster New Era. pp. 62, 39. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Clair McCollough dies; civic leader, radio/TV pioneer". Lancaster New Era. November 30, 1995. pp. A-1, A-6. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  26. ^ "Mrs. Clair McCollough, MSC Trustee, Dies at 78". Lancaster New Era. p. 3. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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