Remembering George Beasley
• It is with a heavy heart Beasley Media Group announces the passing of Company Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, George G. Beasley, who died Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Naples, Florida. He was 89 years old.
George Beasley built his very first station, WPYB-AM/Benson, NC in December of 1961. Over the next 60 years, his hard work and vision paved the way for what Beasley Media Group has become today — one of America’s premiere publicly traded media companies, consisting of 62 radio properties in 15 large and medium markets with digital offerings and an eSports division. While George stepped back from his role as Chief Executive Officer in 2016, he continued to serve as Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors.
An avid philanthropist, Beasley served on the board of the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB) for eight years as President, Vice President and as a member of the Board of Directors. Beasley also received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life — in 1990 his alma mater, Appalachian State University, designated George as one of the institution’s Distinguished Alumni, and he served as Chairman of the Appalachian State University Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees for many years. In 1996, he received the NCAB’s organization’s Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into NCAB’s Hall of Fame in 1998 upon accepting the prestigious “Distinguished Broadcaster of North Carolina” Award. In 2008 he was inducted to the Nevada Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame. Country Radio Broadcasters presented him with the distinguished “Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award” in 2010, and the following year the Florida Association of Broadcasters named him “Broadcaster of the Year.” Beasley was recognized as a “Giant” by the Library of American Broadcasting in 2012. In 2015 Beasley was presented with the NAB’s National Radio Award, and in 2019, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2020, Beasley was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame and received the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among his proudest professional accomplishments was receiving an honorary doctorate from Appalachian State University, and the unveiling of the George G. Beasley Media Complex on campus to provide future generations of ASU students with the opportunity pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in broadcasting.
The many challenges that George faced over the years, he did with humility, dignity and grace. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, his legacy serves as a reminder that anything is possible with dedication, hard work and respect for one another. “George’s unconditional love for our mother, Ann and our family, along with his passion for the radio industry, helped to guide him throughout his lifetime,” said Caroline Beasley, CEO of Beasley Media Group. “A loving father, mentor, and friend, I will especially miss his incredible wisdom, keen insight and gentle smile.”
NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith issued a statement that reads, “NAB is deeply saddened by the passing of George Beasley. George was a pioneer in broadcasting and a giant in his field, building Beasley into one of the premier radio station groups over the course of 60 years and serving the radio industry with distinction. We join with the entire broadcasting community in mourning our friend, and extend our thoughts and prayers to the Beasley family on their loss.”
George Beasley is survived by Ann, his wife of 67 years, five children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. A memorial service will take place for family and friends in Naples, FL. Details will be forthcoming. A private burial service will be held for the family in Ararat, VA. In lieu of flowers, the Beasley family requests donations be made in his name to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, 125 West 55th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10019 or online at broadcastersfoundation.org.
