BIOGRAPHIES OF IMPORTANT KSFO PERSONALITIES:
(From KXA television application, March 30, 1954)
WESLEY I. DUMM
Born March 23, 1895, Columbus, Ohio
Graduated 1916 with A. B. degree: Wesleyan University.
1916-1924, banking business in Wyoming.
1918-1924, staff of U.S. War Finance Corporation.
1924, established investment business in California.
1927, became a director of the Associated Broadcasters,
licensee of KTAB.
1933, acquired the Associated Broadcasters. He was
President, Director and sole stockholder.
1941, at the suggestion of federal government officials,
applied and was granted a license from the F.C.C. to
build a shortwave station in San Francisco to offset
Axis propoganda. KWID began broadcasting on May 4,
1942 with 100 KW. KWIX was established in March of
1943 with 50 KW (later KWID-2). Both stations were
outlets for the Voice of America.
During World War II, Dumm and Associated Broadcasters
became controlling stockholders of Universal Records,
Inc., which manufactured transcriptions for Armed
Forces Radio Service.
1946-50, President, Director and major stockholder of
Muzart Co., Inc., a wired music company playing
music for war plants and other business interests.
President and Director, KPIX, Inc., operator of KPIX
Television.
President, Director and Stockholder of KXA, Inc., since
1946, operators of KXA, Seattle.
President, Director and minority stockholder of KPAS and
KXLA, Pasadena, California, 1945-49.
President, Director of majority stockholder, KROW,
Oakland, 1939-44.
President, director, minority stockholder of Columbia
Empire Telecasters, Inc., applicant for TV station
in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Dumm has been:
- Member, Committee Six of the Defense Communications Board.
- Member, International Broadcasting Committee Six of the
Board of War Communications.
- Member, Committee Three on International Broadcasting of
the Radio Advisory Committee of the U.S. Advisory
Commission on Information.
- Under appointment of the Secretary of State, Special
Consultant to the Office of International Information
(Voice of America).
PHILIP G. LASKY
Born in Denver, Colorado, Feb. 12, 1906.
Attended the public school system, Denver.
In the early 1920's, worked in broadcasting in Denver, as
engineer, announcer, salesman, station executive.
1933-39, U.S. Navy Reserve.
1927-35, Office and Stockholder, Intermountain Broad-
casting Corporation; General Manager of its station,
KDYL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
1935-40, Vice President and General Manager, the Associated
Broadcasters, Inc., operators of KSFO.
Sept. 1939 to Nov. 1944: Vice President and General Manager
of the Educational Broadcasting Corporation, operators
of KROW.
Nov., 1944, formed KROW, Inc., General Manager and 35%
stockholder.
1946, formed the Lasky Company, an advertising agency.
Sept., 1946, sold the Lasky Company to his employees and
returned to KSFO.
Sept. 1946 to Sept. 1952, Vice President and General Manager
of the Associated Broadcasters, Inc., operators of KSFO.
1948, participated in the formation of KPIX, Inc.
1952, became Vice President, General Manager and 14% share-
holder of KPIX, Inc.; continued as Vice President of
Associated Broadcasters, Inc.
1944-52, Vice President and Director of KXA, Inc., operators
of KXA, Seattle.
1952, stockholder of KXA, Inc.
Advisor to the Bay Area Educational TV Association, holder
of an F.C.C. construction permit for KQED Television,
Channel 9.
AL TOWNE
Born April 16, 1906, Bellingham, Washington
Graduate, California Institute of Technology, with Electrical
Engineering degree, 1929.
Since 1936, Director of Universal Research Laboratories, a
radio/TV consulting engineering firm.
Director of Engineering for KPIX and KSFO.
Member, Institute of Radio Engineers.
© Copyright 1996 John F. Schneider. All rights reserved.
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