Jackson Advocate

St. Louis Radio Executive Is Honored By Negro Newspaper
Miller Of KXLW Given Award For Distinguished Public Service

St. Louis, Mo. Mar. 9--(Special to the Jackson Advocate)--Richard J. Miller, president of Radio Station KXLW has been honored by the St. Louis Argus Newspaper for focusing "national attention upon the responsibility of Negro emphasis radio."

Miller was given one of the newspaper's Distinguished Public Service Awards at a dinner last week in the Empire Room of the Ambassador-Kingsway hotel here. Over 300 guests witnessed the presentation.

The award, an engraved silver tray, was presented by Frank W. Mitchell, Sr., publisher of the Argus. The accompanying citation read:

"St. Louis Argus Distinguished Service Award to Richard J. Miller. As president of Radio Station KXLW you focused national attention upon the responsibility of Negro-emphasis radio; you did initiate service programs of general community benefit and so administered KXLW in a manner other media might well emulate."

Miller bought the station early in 1958 and immediately set about "programming up" to the station's listeners. The 1000-watt outlet carries regular public service programs for the NAACP and the Urban League. It programs a regular commentary on the news by George W. Goodman, a widely respected analyst; the Roy Campanella show and a staff of reputable disc jockeys.

The young executive gained national recognition when he unleashed a blast at Negro-emphasis radio generally to "Sponsor" a trade magazine. This bold new approach about a market attracted immediate attention.

In December of 1958, Miller's comments were given prominence in "Variety", the theatre world's "bible". In the Variety article, Miller termed it a "cheap insult" to Negroes and "a source of self generated bigotry, religious quackery, charlatanism and a wallow of ugly, primitive and harmful sounds."

He predicted that the time is over for the type of programming which has been typical in the past. He said that any white man who lingers momentarily over a Negro emphasis station hears poor programming, crummy talk, low down music and is left with the impression that they are really different.

Present as special guest at the dinner meeting was Frank L. Stanley, publisher of the Louisville, (Ky) Defender.

Among others cited at the dinner were Virgil Akins, former middle weight champion; Dr. Walter A. Younge, fellow in the American College of Physicians and Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.