Fifteen television and radio “giants” will be honored at the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s third annual “Celebration of Giants” luncheon, set for Sept. 15 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York. LAB President Lucille Luongo announced the honorees Wednesday.
“It will be our good fortune to convey, in person, our admiration and gratitude to those individuals who continue to grace our industry and our lives,” Luongo said. “All are legendary for their contributions to broadcasting and this occasion is designed to keep their example, and that of their fellow pioneers, forever before us.”
Those being honored include:
Bob Bennett, former president of Metromedia Broadcasting and founder of WCVB-TV, Boston
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner (“The Cosby Show,” “Roseanne,” “That ’70s Show”)
Ron Davenport, Sr., founder and chairman of Sheridan Broadcasting and co-chairman of American Urban Radio Networks
Dan Rather, anchor and managing editor of “CBS Evening News” for 24 years and correspondent for “60 Minutes”
Lucie Salhany, former president and CEO of UPN, president of Paramount Domestic Television and partner in Echo Bridge Entertainment
Lester Smith, former co-owner of Pacific Northwest radio group Kaye-Smith Broadcasting, former owner of the Seattle Mariners
McHenry “Mac” Tichenor Jr., retired president of Univision Radio and former president and CEO of the Hispanic Broadcasting System
Mel Allen, the sportscaster best known as “The Voice of the Yankees” and a former CBS Network announcer
Red Barber, the sportscaster best known as “The Voice of the Dodgers” before transferring to the New York Yankees, also considered a master of baseball play-by-play
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, the comedic duo whose radio performances spanned 40 years, from their first show on Boston’s WHDH, “Matinee with Bob and Ray,” to their final show on NPR, “The Bob and Ray Public Radio Show,” in 1986
Johnny Carson, known as the “King of Late-Night TV,” former host of NBC’s “Tonight Show”
Gabriel Heatter, a radio newscaster and commentator and host of “We, the People” on CBS and “A Brighter Tomorrow” for the Mutual Broadcasting System
Fred Rogers, a cultural icon and host of PBS’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for 33 years
“CBS News Sunday Morning” anchor Charles Osgood is set to host the event.
