Earl H. "Bud" Gillis papers
Collection
0154-MMC-NPBA
Earle H. "Bud" Gillis, Jr. (1919-2003) began his broadcasting career in the early 1940s as a radio announcer at WDAN, Danville, Illinois, and at WGBF, Evansville, Indiana. After military service, he worked as a staff announcer for WHKC in Columbus, Ohio, from 1946 to 1943. He then moved to television as a program manager at WLWC (later WCMH) in Columbus from 1953 to 1962.
Then, from August 1962 to March 1970, Gillis was the executive secretary for the Ohio Educational Television Network Commission. From January 1971 to November 1975, he served as educational consultant for the Ohio Department of Education and also the coordinator for the newly created Educational Media Center. Finally, from November 1975 to his retirement in June 1988, Gillis was vice president of development at the nation's first licensed public television station, WCET, TV 48, Cincinnati, Ohio. He retired in 1992.
The collection documents Gillis' involvement with the Ohio Council on Educational Television, and Ohio educational television in the 1960s.
This collection is open for research use.
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0.25 Linear Feet
Radio announcer and executive Earle H. "Bud" Gillis, Jr. was born on December 27, 1919 in Danville, Illinois. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Danville, before enrolling at the University of Illinois to work on a B.A. in speech. After his graduation in 1941, Gillis spent the following two years as a radio announcer. He was chief announcer at WDAN radio in Danville and he was staff announcer in Evansville, Indiana for WGBF radio. Following this initial work in radio, Gillis entered the military and became a Second Lieutenant in the Army's Medical Administrative Corps. In the Army he was able to use his knowledge of radio to announce and to help construct and manage a hospital broadcasting system in Wakeman General Hospital, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
In December of 1946, Gillis returned to civilian life as an announcer and newscaster for WHKC Radio. From 1953 to 1962 Gillis was Program Manager for WLWC/Channel 4 where he supervised all programming, coordinated program schedules with NBC, and handled on-air talent. From 1962 to 1970, Gillis served as Executive Secretary for the Ohio Educational Television Network Commission. Here, Gillis helped construct and operate a statewide television network that greatly increased the number of viewers in Ohio. By 1969, the Ohio General Assembly was willing to authorize more than $5.5 million for the network.
In the 1970's Gillis held a variety of jobs in broadcasting. Between 1970 and 1971, he helped produce mobile color remote television as an administrative assistant to the President of the RME Group of Communications Companies. Between 1973 and 1976 he was a TV commercial announcer for the Big Bear Supermarket Chain. During this period he also worked for the Ohio Department of Education from 1971 to 1975 as an educational consultant. At this job he coordinated a newly formed educational media center, assisted the Superintendent of Public Instructions, supervised special projects, and acted as the publications review specialist. From 1975 until his retirement in 1988 Gillis was Vice President of development for WCET in Cincinnati, while also acting as "Uncle Bud" for children's programs.
Organized as one series:
The Earle H. "Bud" Gillis papers were donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by Earle H. "Bud" Gillis in 1991.
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives