REMEMBERING JACK MCBRIDE

[Steve Robinson]

As many of you may know, Jack McBride, the pioneering founder of Nebraska ETV, the Nebraska Public Radio Network and countless other public broadcasting ventures and projects, passed away on August 28th at the age of 82. This is a request for those who worked with and for Jack or knew and admired him to write a comment about your experience with him and your thoughts about his massive contribution to public broadcasting. If the word gets out that CURRENT has established this page in his memory I'm sure it will soon be filled with many comments. I hope yours is one of them.

Steve Robinson
First General Manager
Nebraska Public Radio Network
1990-2000
[e-mail]

[Steve Behrens]

Ron Hull's eulogy at the Aug. 1 memorial service is posted here and Current will publish an obituary on Monday.

[Steve Robinson]

I posted this note to the Lincoln (NE) Journal-Star the day I heard the news of Jack's passing.

Jack taught me more than anyone else in broadcasting.

He insisted that those who reported to him do so every week and if you couldn't make it you better have a good reason, like perhaps you were going to Mars. People who didn't know Jack all that well would say, "Must be hard to have to meet with Jack every week." Quite the contrary. I would relish those meetings and I rarely missed one. They were the highlight of my week. He insisted on weekly meetings because he felt it was his responsbility to know what was going on but that wasn't the real reason. The real reason was that he loved radio and he wanted to know what was happening because he enjoyed following our progress. He NEVER said no to an idea. He might ask 50 questions and the idea might be shaped differently because of them, but he loved new ideas and he loved to see them grow. He was a visionary and he took risks. His mind was never at rest. Just being around him and watching him work was an inspiration.

Jack took the idea of a statewide radio network and within a few years raised $500,000 in mostly small donations to match the federal dollars (which he also lined up) to launch it and he took great joy in watching it develop. Since leaving Nebraska Public Radio in 2000, Jack was never far from my mind. His dedication to public service, his vision, his prudence, his risk-taking and the joy he took from it all is a constant inspiration. I shall miss him deeply.

Steve Robinson
General Manager
WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network
[e-mail]

[Ward Chamberlin]

Jack was the best and in the late 60s and earrly 70s when we were putting PBS together , he was with us. He could see the possibilites in what we were trying to do. But he never let us forget the educational side of our business and of course in Nebraska he started from scratch and led the way - not only in his State but also by creating a model which other State netwroks could follow. He was fun to be with and a great competitor on the tennis court. He brought his determination and leadership talent to everything he did. Ward Chamberlin

[Howard Lowe]

I was a colleague of Jack's when I was general manager of public television and radio at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1988 - 1996.

Jack was a true entrepreneur, and we are fortunate that he applied his creative energy to public telecommunications. The nature of public television and radio in eastern Nebraska, at least while I worked there, was such that Jack and I were sometimes at odds on various production and programming issues. But I always held a deep respect for Jack's clear vision and his ability to turn new ideas into valuable services. I served on the advisory board of the NEB*SAT project that Jack developed. To this day, I apply what I learned from the innovations he fostered.

Howard Lowe
General Manager, Television - Radio
University of Nebraska at Omaha (1988-1996)
[e-mail]

[Jack Dominci]

I was privileged to serve with Jack when we both were involved with a public broadcasting Interactive Disc project at the Smithsonian Institution. This was the first time I had the opportunity to see first hand how he could distill complex issues into plans of action. His creativity and work ethic were and are inspirational.

I mostly remember him as the consummate gentleman in an industry that needs many more.

Jack Dominic
CET- Cincinnati

[Larry Miller]

Jack's contribution to public broadcasting was enormous. As a native Nebraskan, I'm very proud of NETV, and there is no one who worked harder or did more to shape the network than Jack McBride. What a joy to have known Jack and to have benefitted from his experiences. As a member of OSBE, Jack was quick to share his insight, experience, and considerable wisdom with the rest of us. I particularly remember his work and commitment to editorial integrity within public broadcasting. And to top it all off, he had a wonderful sense of humor! How fortunate we were to have Jack as a friend and colleague.

Larry Miller
Spearfish, SD

[Art Singer]

Steve: I've just joined Direct Current and so I just learned of Jack's passing in August. Jack was a true pioneer in our industry. I got into educational tv (as we called it back then) in 1960, and Jack was already a key figure as I recall. I had the pleasure of working with Jack when he and I were members of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives. While I was chair, Jack was one of the key people in OSBE's development of the Principles of Editorial Integrity. And a fierce defender of our primary role as educators. He was a key part of our satellite delivered programing and teacher training initiatives. And a wonderful human being. One of my disappointments as chair of OSBE, was that I couldn't pursuade the group's members to take Jack up on his invitation to host one of our meetings. They were concerned about how long and how much it woudl cost. And so I never got a chance to come see your facilities. I think Jack was disappointed too, but being the true gentleman that he was,he never expressed it. Hope all is well in Nebraska.

Art Singer