Herb McCord, President and CEO of Granum Communications, has died. McCord was dealing with heart and kidney issues over the past year which progressively got worse. He was 77 years old.
Here’s how many in the radio industry felt about Herb McCord:
Norm Feuer: “I’ve known Herb since 1967. I love him to death and in all the time that I’ve been in media I have never heard one person ever say a bad thing about Herb. He was a giant and a giant teddy bear. I will miss him deeply.”
Former Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth knew Herb for over 30 years and was with him two weeks ago. “He gave me my first break in radio and made me GM of Magic in Boston. He was bright, witty, and always stood by you. I will miss that smile but always be grateful that Herb McCord made me a better person.”
Beasley Media CEO Caroline Beasley said Herb was a beloved member of the Beasley Media Group family. “A thoughtful and treasured leader in the radio industry, he joined our board in 2001 and played an important role in shaping the company’s success. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed.”
RAB CEO Erica Farber tells Radio Ink the RAB is mourning the loss of one of radio’s great leaders. “Herb was one of the RAB’s longest-standing board members, having joined the board in 1986 and leaving 30 years later when his term expired in 2015. My personal relationship with Herb goes back many years ago when he was the General Manager of the legendary CKLW in Detroit. As a young woman in management, he became a mentor and friend and remained an important influence in my life all these many years later. He was a great broadcaster and a strong leader, and demonstrated the importance of working hard and playing hard. With his warm ear-to-ear smile and those sparkling blue eyes, he enjoyed each and every day with gusto! I have no doubt he and dear Ron Ruth have been reunited and are already toasting each other.”
Randy Michaels: “Herb was a broadcaster who understood the business, the science, and art of broadcasting. He understood and was part of the soul of the business. That seems almost quaint in an era when many key decisions are made not by broadcasters but by MBAs at private equity firms. Herb understood the business. When CKLW had labor issues, Herb even subbed as a board op. The guys with the business degrees aren’t likely to do that. I was fortunate to collaborate more than compete with Herb. I will miss him and so will radio.”
Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks: “Herb was not only an intelligent businessman, but also a great person. I will always remember his dependable smile, as well as his optimism and generous personality – all the qualities you want in a colleague and friend. Just the mention of his name and the sound of his voice lit up a room. Herb will be missed greatly, and I share my deepest sympathies with his family and friends during this most difficult time.”
Peter Ferrara was a close friend of Herb’s. “Herb was my mentor, business partner, and dear friend. He loved the radio business and shared his fun-loving and full-of-life spirit with us all. I am fortunate to have over 40 years of treasured memories of a man who was a major influence in my life.”
John David tells Radio Ink Herb was one of those quality broadcasters and friends you always wanted to interact with. “I’ve heard from many of his friends and former colleagues who say he’ll truly be missed.”
United Stations Founder/CEO Nick Verbitsky said, “Herb was one of the good guys. Both in local radio and at the corporate level, he was a solid operator and was a positive influence on those who worked with and for him.”
Doc Fuller: “I have known Herb for about 40 years, for the past 4 years we became very close as have been next door neighbors in Naples, FL. Herb was a great success in addition to being a great guy. In all our rounds on the golf course and during our many social hours I never heard Herb say a negative thing about anyone.”
Before founding Granum, McCord spent 10 years as VP/Radio at Greater Media. In 2015, he received the Ward L. Quaal Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation for his day-to-day management of Granum, now controlled by an investment bank.
McCord co-founded Granum in 1990 with the goal of buying stations in major markets, and the company grew quickly to become one of the five largest groups. Its stable of stations was sold to Infinity in 1996.
