Radio, TV Veteran E. Berry Smith Dies
Veteran radio, TV executive E. Berry Smith dies at 82; retired from Schurz Communications in 2001.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/31/2008 7:06:00 AM
Veteran radio and TV executive E. Berry Smith, 82, who headed TV stations and cable systems from Virginia to California, died July 29 in South Bend, Ind.
Capping a career that spanned more than a half-century, Smith retired in 2001 as senior vice president of broadcasting and cable for Schurz Communications in South Bend, owner of WSBT-TV and WSBT Radio Group there, as well stations and cable systems in more than a half-dozen states.
Smith began at WIRE (AM) Indianapolis in 1949 and proceeded to rise through the ranks via sales and management posts at a host of stations including WFIE-TV Evansville, Ind..; WFTV-TV Green Bay, Wis.; and WLKY-TV Louisville, Ky. He was also with CBS Network Sales in Detroit.
Smith was former chairman of the CBS Television Advisory Board; a member of the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame, the Broadcasters Foundation and the National Press club; and on the boards of various councils, charities, chambers of commerce and clubs,
Born Feb. 21, 1926, in Daytona Beach, Fla., Smith was raised in Indianapolis and served in the Army in World War II, as well as the Army reserve.
He is survived by two sons, Kevin and Martin, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Aug. 1 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. Joseph Funeral Home, 1827 E. Ireland Road, South Bend.
Condolences can be registered on the funeral home’s Web site.
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