The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Charles E. "Chuck" Sherman began his affiliation with the NAB (the National Association of Broadcasters) in 1988 after a distinguished career in broadcasting that included service as general manager of WHOI-TV, Peoria, IL and WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV. He was past president of the Broadcast Education Association.

Prior to entering the television business, Sherman's career was in academics. He was professor and associate chairman of the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and professor and chairman at the Department of Telecommunications at Indiana University.

At NAB, Chuck was Executive Vice President for Television (until 2002) and served as President of the NAB Educational Foundation (until 2004). He was credited with establishing numerous initiatives including the highly acclaimed Service to America Summit which recognizes outstanding public service contributions.

He founded the "one hundred plus" conference that focuses on small and medium market television. Under his leadership, the NABEF instituted the Broadcast Leadership Training program that provides advanced training of minorities and women in senior broadcast management. It was his vision that forged a partnership with Howard University in establishing the NAB Howard University Media Sales Institute.

In 2003 the NAB established a national award entitled the "Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award" which recognizes leadership, service and commitment to local television in medium and smaller markets.

"There’s a reason Chuck Sherman is called ‘Mr. Television’ at NAB," said NAB President Edward O. Fritts. "He knew the players, the issues and the business nuances in all 210 TV markets. Chuck was a close and trusted friend."

Chuck was graduated from Philly's Central High School and he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Temple's School of Business in 1960. There was no School of Communications at that time, and Radio-TV majors were in the business college.

In 1963, he earned his masters and three years later was granted his Ph.d from Dartmouth. During his time at Temple University, he became friendly to two past presidents of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, Lew Klein and John Roberts.

In 1998, Chuck Sherman e-mailed: "I talked with (Broadcast Pioneers member) Bill Seibel yesterday and he is as funny and sarcastic as ever. ...We get to see each other in Philadelphia and Washington, and I always give him a lot of credit for encouraging me to get a Ph.D. Also, Lew Klein and I work together on many industry projects. He is well-regarded by his colleagues for his untiring efforts on behalf of broadcasting and students. We were ...fortunate to have professors like John (Roberts), Del (Dusenbury), Bill (Seibel), and Lew (Klein) who gave us a love for our profession as well as a sense of what public service means."

While an undergraduate at Temple, Chuck Sherman worked at WHAT Radio. Chuck was a disc-jockey on "Sounds in the Night," a modern jazz program on WHAT from 1 to 6 am Tuesday thru Sunday mornings while in school.

He was also a full-time student majoring in communications; an announcer, actor and engineer on WRTI-FM, University radio station; University football announcer and radio time salesman for his jazz program.

"I started at WHAT as a summer replacement," Chuck Sherman said in 1958, "and when the station started programming 13 hours of jazz a day, I was retained for the 1 to 6 am slot.

"Did you know," Sherman added in 1958 that WHAT was the only station broadcasting 13 hours of jazz east of California? From 5 pm to 1 am, it is only on FM and my program is on both FM and AM."

After the broadcast, Chuck had classes from 8 am to noon. He then spent a few hours at WRTI where he was Sports Director and University football game announcer.

"I now act and announce for the "Studio Schoolhouse" series broadcast by WFIL radio. It's the longest consecutive series of educational programs broadcast on a commercial station in this area," Chuck said in 1958. Studio Schoolhouse was produced by Marguerite Farley, a former Broadcast Pioneers president.

"It takes me two hours to program the music for the jazz show, and then it's usually dinner time. I sleep from 6 to 11:30 pm," he stated in 1958.

Chuck Sherman died on June 18, 2005 in Philadelphia after a long illness. He was 71.