Michael Hall McDougald has been a leader in broadcasting in the southeast all of his broadcasting career serving both Alabama and his native Georgia. He attended Emory University in Atlanta, graduating in 1952 from the Emory School of Journalism with a BA degree. During the Korean War, he entered the United States Army and was graduated from the Counter-Intelligence Corps School in Baltimore, MD as ‘CIC Special Agent’ with top secret clearance. His service was in Germany during the height of the ‘cold war’ and he traveled extensively throughout ‘free’ Germany and into Berlin performing courier and counter-intelligence investigative duties for the CIC Region III, USAEUR, Frankfurt.

Returning to America, he entered Henry W. Grady Graduate School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, engaged in work toward a Master’s Degree. His mentor Elmo Ellis urged him to return to his pre-war job (‘morning man at WSB AM-FM) in Atlanta (his Master’s degree incomplete). He has been employed in radio in Georgia at WWNS/WMCD, Statesboro; WRFC, Athens; WGBA, Columbus; WSB, Atlanta. He has been involved in ownership of WCHK, Canton (GA); WAAX/WQEN, Gadsden (AL); WRGA/WQTU, Rome (GA); and WVOV, Danville (VA). He lived in Gadsden from 1960 to 1977 and with his partner developed WAAX from a 1kw daytimer to full time, full power AM & FM service.

Mike has won many awards in both Alabama and Georgia in including two Marconi Awards and one Crystal award from the National Association of Broadcasters, three Abe Lincoln awards, and seven GAB Station of the Year awards. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters representing Alabama and Georgia, and as Chairman of America’s Small Market Committee. Mike was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Georgia Broadcasters. He is a frequent contributor of newspaper and magazine articles, a frequent speaker, and is authoring a book entitled “Passing Parade”.

Mike service to his country didn’t end with his tour of duty; he has twice served as a civilian advisor to the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA and on the Advisory Council of the 3rd Army at Fort McPherson, Atlanta. He is an instrument rated licensed pilot, and on three occasions observed Naval carrier flight operations in the Gulf out of Pensacola (USS Lexington) Mike and his wife Leeta live in Rome, GA; they have four children and several grandchildren.

Additional Awards and Recognition

· Past President of the GAB and past Board Member of both Georgia and Alabama Broadcasters Associations.

· Broadcaster of the Year in Alabama and Broadcast-Citizen of the Year in Georgia.

· Two terms as Vice Chairman of the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission, which operates Georgia Public Broadcasting’s 17 Radio stations and 9 Televisions.

· Chairman of the Foundation for Public Broadcasting of Georgia, Inc.

· Georgia Public Broadcasting’s representative to the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS).

· In the fall of 2008 inducted into The Grady Fellowship of the University of Georgia.

Serving His Community

· Chairman of the Floyd County Hospital Authority

· Chairman of the Battey Foundation of Floyd Medical Center

· President of Rome Rotary and Gadsden Rotary Clubs

· Chairman of Westminster School

· Chairman of Corporate Boys’ Clubs of Gadsden

· President of National Alumni Association of Emory University

· Member and past Vice Chairman Board of Visitors of Emory

· Chairman of United Way of Rome

· Member Board of Governors Rome Area History Museum

· Served on the Southeastern US Council of American Red Cross and as Member of the National Rules Committee of Red Cross and as the State of Alabama Chairman of Volunteers for Red Cross.