Gunn, Hartford N., Jr., 1927-1986

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Name Entries *

Gunn, Hartford N., Jr., 1927-1986

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Gunn

Forename :

Hartford N.

NameAddition :

Jr.

Date :

1927-1986

eng

Latn

authorizedForm

rda

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Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1926

1926

Birth

1986-01-02

January 2, 1986

Death

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Biographical History

Hartford N. Gunn, Jr., was the founding president of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Gunn was born in Port Washington, N.Y. in 1926. He graduated from Harvard University with an MBA in 1951. Shortly after graduating, he began working as the general manager of WBGH-TV in Boston; at that point, it was an FM radio station, and Gunn helped develop and expand its television service. He left WBGH in 1970 to become the first president of PBS. Although he was plagued by low budgets, he helped implement a financial cooperative and a satellite service for the member stations, which helped them operate more independently and offer robust content.

In 1979, he departed PBS to become the general manager for KCET in Los Angeles, where he served until his retirement in 1983. After retirement, he worked as a television consultant from his home in Annapolis, Md. He died of cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital on January 2, 1986.

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51496665

https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q71751630

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Subjects

Public broadcasting

Television broadcasting

Nationalities

Activities

Occupations

Consultants

Executives

Managers

Legal Statuses

Places

Boston

MA, US

AssociatedPlace

Death

Annapolis

MD, US

AssociatedPlace

Residence

Los Angeles

CA, US

AssociatedPlace

Work

Port Washington

NY, US

AssociatedPlace

Birth

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Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w6q63f55

85524937