Don Backus will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, its highest honor.
Radio World readers are likely to know Backus as a former radio technology executive with companies like Audio Broadcast Group, ENCO Systems, Broadcast Electronics and Rohde & Schwarz. And indeed the MAB mentioned in its announcement that throughout his career, “Don has championed the belief that technology is most valuable when it empowers broadcasters to better serve their audiences.”
But his career extends well beyond selling equipment.
MAB said that Backus “dedicated nearly five decades to broadcasting, building a distinguished career as an on-air personality, station owner, sales executive, technology leader and industry advocate.”
He began at Michigan State University and later worked at stations including WITL, WVIC and WDBI-FM, where he was president and general manager.
“A passionate supporter of Michigan broadcasting, Don served on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation Board, where he continues as an Honorary Member,” it said.
MAB called Backus a respected mentor, educator and leader. He was a longtime contributor to the Great Lakes Broadcast Conference, a presenter on broadcast technology and an “advocate for innovation that strengthens local media.”
The association has been giving the Lifetime Achievement Award since 1989.
The association also announced its 2026 Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class. It includes Detroit Piston’s Radio play-by-play announcer Mark Champion, Vice President of Results Broadcasting and General Manager of WJNR/WOBE/WHTO (Iron Mountain) Trisha Peterson, and journalist, author, musician, and former news anchor at WDIV-TV (Detroit) Devin Scillian.
Also, Luke Sloan, WWJ Newsradio 950 and 97.1 The Ticket (Detroit) anchor and reporter, will receive the MAB Foundation Young Professional award.
Awards will be presented during the association’s annual business meeting on Sept. 1 in Grand Rapids.
