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ings, of the thousands of miles you have traveled in connection with business of the National Urban League, of the difficult decisions you have had to make, and how through all of this, you have maintained your enthusiasm and your unwavering conviction in the principles that guide the NUL."

Group W owns and operates 12 radio and television stations in nine major cities, and Mr. McGannon has been the top man at the nation's fourth largest broadcasting company since 1955.

In addition, Mr. McGannon directs the activities of all Group W subsidiaries including Television Advertising Representatives, Inc.; Radio Advertising Representatives, Inc.; Group W Productions, Inc.; and the company's cable television interests — Clearview of Georgia, Inc; Florida Antennavision, Inc.; Clearview of Florida, Inc.; and CATV Enterprises, Inc.

His leadership at Group W has been characterized by its rapid growth, a broadened program of public service and closer ties between local stations and the communities they serve.

Beyond question, Group W has the most substantial equal opportunity record of any major broadcast organization.

Mr. McGannon began his career with Group W in January 1955 as Vice President and General Executive. From 1952-1955, he was Assistant Director of Broadcasting and General Manager of the Dumont Television Network's owned stations.

Throughout his career, Donald McGannon has been a positive force in the many activities that he has been involved in and the many institutions he has served. He was founder of the Broadcast Skills Bank, a national effort to seek out, train, employ and upgrade minority group manpower in the broadcast industry which was later renamed the Employment Clearinghouse under the direction of the National Association of Broadcasters. 

In 1972, Mr. McGannon was the first broadcaster elected Chairman of the Advertising Council, the public service arm of business which conducts public service advertising campaigns on social problems facing the nation. He is now Honorary Chairman of the Advertising Council.

He is a trustee or adviser to seven institutions of higher learning and serves with several government agencies and groups. He is Chairman of the Connecticut Commission for Higher Education and is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Urban Coalition.

He was a founder and is a trustee of Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, Connecticut and is a past member of the Connecticut Transportation Authority, the Connecticut Scholarship Commission, and the Connecticut Committee on Environmental Policy.

Mr. McGannon has been the recipient of many honors from broadcasting and non-broadcasting organizations, among them the Trustees Award of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Distinguished Service Award of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Distinguished Service Award of the National Catholic Office for Radio and Television, the Frederick Douglass Award of the New York Urban League, and the Gold Medal Award from Philadelphia's Poor Richard Club.

He has received honorary degrees from Fordham University, the University of Scranton, Creighton University, St. Bonaventure University, Emerson College,

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[[caption]] Eklund; Jordan, McGannon and Mrs. McGannon

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