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Roone Arledge, CC'52, chairman of ABC News and a renowned network television innovator, has been elected University Trustee. Arledge made his debut in the new role at the Trustee's meeting Oct. 1.
In 1998, Arledge was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Medal, Columbia College's highest honor, for his contributions to the College.
Arledge is best known for his role as chief architect of a revolution in network news and sports coverage during his 45 years of broadcasting.
Named president of ABC News in 1977, Arledge spent two decades at ABC's helm, pushing the network to the forefront of the television news industry by creating some of the most enduring and critically acclaimed news programs in television history, including World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, This Week with David Brinkley, 20/20, Primetime Live and the perennially award-winning Nightline-the first network news program to air in the late evening.
From 1968-1986 as president of ABC Sports, Arledge virtually invented modern American sports broadcasting with such state-of-the-art techniques as the instant replay, stylized graphics, innovative camera angles and slow motion. Among his greatest production successes at ABC Sports were NFL Monday Night Football and ABC's Wide World of Sports. In addition, he spent 10 years personally producing ABC's Olympic Games broadcasts.
Highly regarded in his field, Arledge holds a Medal of the Olympic Order, 36 Emmy Awards, 20 Peabody Awards, was inducted to the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1989, and has been recognized by the Television Academy Hall of Fame and the International Radio and Television Society for demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards.
Arledge was also named one of Life magazine's "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century." He currently serves on the boards of The Council on Foreign Relations, Arts & Entertainment Networks, The History Channel and ESPN.
Arledge is a 1952 graduate of Columbia College and holds two honorary doctorates, one in humane letters from Boston University and another in law from Wake Forest University.
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