Former KUSA GM Franzgrote Dies

Gannett vet was a proven leader

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/5/2010 3:33:17 PM

Former KUSA Denver President/General Manager Joe Franzgrote passed away after a long illness March 3. He was 75.

Franzgrote retired in 1997 after a 30-year run at Gannett, including a stint at KARE Minneapolis, where he grew the station into a solid competitor. He was succeeded atop KUSA by Roger Ogden.

Franzgrote's first position in broadcasting was with WNDU in South Bend, Ind., where he was a cameraman and an account executive. He moved on to various stations around the country, including WMDB Peoria and KIRO Seattle.

Franzgrote was considered a mentor for multiple Gannett general managers on their way up.

Upon his retirement, he said work never felt like work. "Do something you enjoy, make it fun--you will get nothing unless you give something and nor do you deserve anything so that should be your golden rule of work," said Franzgrote. "And if you work at something you enjoy, time will go very quickly, as it has for me. My advice is simple: always work to live and not the other way around."

Services will be held next week in Denver.