Donald R. Quayle (July 27, 1930 – April 16, 2015) was an American broadcast journalist who was the first president of National Public Radio (NPR), from 1970 to 1973.[1]

Donald R. Quayle
Born(1930-07-27)July 27, 1930
DiedApril 16, 2015(2015-04-16) (aged 84)
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationUtah State University
OccupationPresident of National Public Radio
Years active1970–1973

Early life and education

edit

Born in Logan, Utah, Quayle attended Utah State University, completing his undergraduate work in 1952.[2][3] He earned a master's degree in theatre from Utah State and attended Ohio State University for further graduate work.[3]

Career

edit

Quayle managed a radio station at Ohio State and, from 1960 to 1962, WGBH in Boston.[3][4] Quayle was named a member of the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1968.[5]

In 1970, he became the first president of NPR. Quayle and Bill Siemering, NPR's first program director, are considered NPR's "parents".[6] In 1976 he was the senior vice president for programming at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.[7] In 1979, he became vice president for administration at WETA. He retired in 1989.[3]

Personal life

edit

Quayle was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8] On May 7, 2010, Quayle received an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from Utah State University in recognition of his long career of significant contributions to public broadcasting in the United States. He died in 2015, aged 84.[9]

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Carmody, John (March 9, 1989). "The TV Column". The Washington Post. p. C12.
  2. ^ "Broadcasting pioneer from Logan dies at 76". The Herald Journal. January 1, 2005.
  3. ^ a b c d "Archives of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Donald R. Quayle Files". University of Maryland, College Park. August 1, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Jack W. (2005). Listener Supported: The Culture and History of Public Radio. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 59. ISBN 0-275-98352-8.
  5. ^ Windeler, Robert (November 23, 1968). "Public Broadcasting Corporation Names 6 Aides as Parley Ends". The New York Times. p. 94.
  6. ^ McCauley, Michael P. "NPR", The New York Times, July 17, 2005. Retrieved on April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Fraser, C. Gerald. "$1 Million Contribution to BBC By Public TV Is Scored by Actors", The New York Times, November 8, 1976. Retrieved on April 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Oney, Steve. "The Philosopher King and the Creation of NPR", Medium, July 11, 2014. Retrieved on April 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "NPR Founder Don Quayle Dies". April 18, 2015.
Business positions
Preceded by
none
President and CEO of National Public Radio
1970–1973
Succeeded by