Wheeler Lake HistoryWheeler Lake History Information

1935

Auburn University Honoree Worked on Construction of Wheeler Dam
Retired broadcast executive Charles F. Grisham of Huntsville received an honorary doctor of science degree from Auburn University at AU's winter graduation on March 20, 1998. Grisham, an Athens native who got his start in broadcasting as an Auburn student in the 1930s, established WHNT-TV, Channel 19, in Huntsville and made it a commercial success before selling it in 1980. He also built and operated successfully WYEA-TV, Ch annel 38, in Columbus, Ga., selling it in 1976. In Selma, he purchased WSLA-TV, Channel 8, (now WAKA-TV) and moved the tower closer to Montgomery, making the station a commercial success before retiring and selling the station in 1985.

A graduate of Athens High School, Grisham entered Auburn in 1935 at age 22 after working on the construction of Wheeler Dam on the Tennessee River. At Auburn, he was business manager of The Plainsman student newspaper and began his broadcast career with campus radio station WAPI, which later moved to Birmingham as a commercial station. Graduating from Auburn in 1939 with a degree in agricultural science, Grisham worked in radio and did broadcast programming for Ralston-Purina until World War II, during which he served four years as an Army officer. Following the war, he returned to the broadcasting business.

Grisham is a past president and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Alabama Broadcasters Association. The retired broadcast executive has served as state chair of the Cancer Crusade and has been a major benefactor to many charities, foundations and institutions in the Huntsville area and across the state. At Auburn, Grisham has served as a member of the School of Human Sciences Development Board and the Auburn Generations Fund National Campaign Committee. Grisham and his wife Betty established the Grisham-Trentham Endowed Lecture Series in Consumer Affairs, which has brought such famous designers to AU as Bijan and Nolan Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Grisham have been major contributors to AU's Draughon Library. Grisham, a member of the AU baseball team in 1938, also was a benefactor in the renovation of Plainsman Park, Auburn's baseball park.

Related Link: AU Admin News

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