Service Electric President John Walson Dies

Had guided company his father launched as nation's first cable system

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/20/2012 5:08:25 PM

John Walson Jr., president of Service Electric Cable TV and Communications, has died of cancer at the age of 63, according to various reports.

Service Electric was founded in 1948 by John Walson Sr., who is credited with creating the nation's first cable system when he strung a wire from an antenna to his appliance store in Mahanoy City, Pa., to deliver Philadelphia TV station signals to that mountainous region in an effort to sell more TV sets.

John Walson Jr. had moved through the ranks, including as chief engineer, technician and head technician before taking over as president of the company, which owns cable systems serving 217,000 basic video subs (Kagan) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The company dedicated its web site Monday to Walson's memory.