Buck Long

A native of Spartanburg, S. C. Buck Long's interest in radio came naturally, as his father had been a radio broadcaster. Long (1929-2002) once told a reporter, “An associate of mine always said that I had grown up in the shadow of a big transmitter. There wasn't a day that I wasn't around broadcasting.” Long began his media career in 1947 while a student at Mobile's Spring Hill College.

His journey began as WMOB's station break announcer and disc jockey. 1950 would be the year Buck graduated from daytime to nighttime announcer/disc jockey, at WABB Radio. Where he earned a show titled "Buck's Back Room". WABB promoted Buck to his first position in sales as a full time associate in 1954. He later became sales manager. In 1957, he left WABB to become an account executive for Jack Lewis Advertising. Buck joined TV5's sales department in 1959 and in 1967 was promoted to local sales manager. In only a short time he became vice president, senior vice president, and in 1982 executive vice president and station manager. In 1986, WKRG promoted him to President and General Manager and he retired in 1998, when the station was purchased by Spartan Communications. He remained a consultant for the station.

His service and recognitions in the industry included the 1966 Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation, Advisory Board of the Television Bureau Advertising and a representative for the CBS Television Network Affiliates Association.

Buck Long served as chairman of the board of Deacons for Central Presbyterian Church and was also an Elder. He was given an honorary Fellow of the University of Mobile. Buck married Sara Kerr Long, they had one daughter Karen Long St. Clair and three grandchildren.

Industry Recognition and Service
· Advisory Board of the Television Bureau of Advertising
· Member of the CBS Television Affiliates Government Relations Committee
· President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association.

Civic, Community and Charitable Organizations
· Board Member for the following: Mobile Mental Health Association, Mobile Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mobile Historic Homes Tours, Arthritis Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the Mobile Opera Guild and the Advertising Federation of Greater Mobile.
· Served in leadership with the Mobile Rotary Club, Mobile United, the Mobile Area Better Business Bureau, Springhill Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army, Mobile Convention & Visitors Corporation, United Way of Southwest Alabama and the Mobile Boy Scouts.
· Membership in the Senior Bowl Committee and the Grand Slam Education Foundation