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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF JEFF MCGRATH
WHEREAS, Jeff McGrath, award-winning journalist, pioneer in the television home shopping industry and longtime ABC7 television executive widely credited with launching the career of Oprah Winfrey died at the age of 73, leaving behind family, countless friends, colleagues and a community enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Jeff McGrath was a talented and influential Chicago television executive for more than thirty years. In addition to his countless career achievements he was well-known and beloved by his colleges as a generous mentor to generations of producers and programmers working around the country. His wisdom and guidance helped shape the next generation of television journalists; and
WHEREAS, Jeff McGrath's distinguished career in television management included a lengthy run as program director at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. In addition to his outstanding work there he will long be remembered for being the first to spot a young Oprah Winfrey on the demo tape of Debra DiMaio, a producer from Baltimore he had hired for "A.M. Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Jeff McGrath served as general manager of WYCC-Channel 20, the City Colleges of Chicago public television station, and as president and chairman of the board of Silver King Communications, parent company of the former WEHS-Channel 60 and thirteen other home-shopping stations. He also was president and partner of Center City Studios, a broadcast and advertising production facility in Chicago. He is credited with the launch of Channel 60 and 14 UHF stations and other low-power stations across the country; and
WHEREAS, Jeff McGrath was a Chicago native and graduate of Drake University. He joined ABC 7 as a producer/promotion writer in 1967 and moved up to community affairs director, specials producer, executive producer and assistant program director before he was named program director in 1976. McGrath's first work on a locally produced progra...
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