Fifty-year broadcaster Lew Dickey senior passed away Thanksgiving weekend.
He was 86.
The father of Cumulus Media CEO Lew Dickey Jr. and co-COO John Dickey began his career at Storer Broadcasting’s WWVA(AM), Wheeling, W.Va. He was promoted within Storer to leadership positions at KDKA(TV), Pittsburgh followed by WAGA(TV), Atlanta. In 1958, he founded Midwestern Broadcasting by acquiring WKWK, Wheeling, W.Va. Dickey turned around the station in 24 months. He started expanding Midwestern by adding Toledo, Ohio stations WOHO(AM) in 1965 and WWWM(FM) in 1973.
Shortly afterwards, Dickey bought WLIO(TV), Lima, Ohio in partnership with the Toledo Blade newspaper. In 1992, he purchased WALR(FM) and WCNN(AM), Atlanta.
“My dad was an enormously talented broadcaster and, more importantly, a deeply devoted husband, father and mentor. He touched the lives of many people and will be dearly missed,” said Lew Dickey Jr. in a statement.
Lew Dickey Sr. is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia; six children: Pat, Lew, David, John, Michael and Caroline; and eight grandchildren. As of press time, services plans had not been publicly mentioned.
