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2005 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Jack C. Clifford

1956 Bachelor of Arts

Mr. Clifford began his broadcast activities at WMU, when as a speech major he led an initiative to create WIDR, the University's student-run radio station. He is now recognized as a pioneer in developing television programming and in the cable-TV, cellular-phone, paging, broadcast-cable and satellite-network industries. Mr. Clifford’s many and varied accomplishments include building the electronic media division of the Providence Journal Co., where he was executive vice president; founding the Television Food Network, where he was chairman; and founding the five-state, 24-hour news channel Northwest Cable News, where he was chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Clifford regularly consults with media companies and recently assisted WETA-TV, the public broadcasting service for Washington, D.C., in its effort to develop a classical music cable-TV network called Fanfare. Throughout his career, Mr. Clifford has been an active leader in both professional and civic organizations and he has provided far-reaching philanthropic support, particularly in areas of educational programming and the arts.