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| June 2, 2021  news@countryaircheck.com | |
» Chronicle:  Beasley Founder/Executive Chairman George Beasley passed away today (6/2). He was 89. Beasley grew up in southwest Virginia and graduated from Appalachian State University. He built his first radio station, WPYB/Benson, NC, in December 1961. Over the next six decades, he built Beasley Media Group into a publicly traded company consisting of 62 radio stations across 15 markets, including Country stations WKLB/Boston, WQYK/Tampa, WKXC/Augusta, GA, KCYE/Las Vegas, WSOC/Charlotte, WKML/Fayetteville, NC and WXTU/Philadelphia. He stepped back from his CEO role in 2016.
Beasley received numerous accolades, including inductions into the Radio Halls of Fame of Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The Florida Association of Broadcasters named him “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2011 and the Country Radio Broadcasters presented him with the distinguished “Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award” in 2010. Last year he received the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award and he was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame (CAT 2/19/21). Appalachian State University designated George as one of the institution’s Distinguished Alumni and dedicated the George G. Beasley Media Complex on campus to provide future generations of ASU students with the opportunity to pursue their dreams in broadcasting.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ann, five children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. A memorial service will take place for family and friends in Naples, Florida. Details will be forthcoming. A private burial service will be held for the family in Ararat, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the Beasley family requests donations be made in his name to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, 125 West 55th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10019. Online donations may be made here. |
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