Former RAB President/CEO Gary Fries Dead at 76

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, September 22, 2017

Gary Fries

Sad to report that former Radio Adevertising Bureau (RAB) President/CEO Gary Fries has died. He passed away early Friday at age 76. "It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Gary Fries," said RAB President/CEO Erica Farber in a statement. Following his departure from the RAB after 14 years, he left in 2006 with the title of President Emeritus and continued to hold a seat on the RAB Board to his very last day.

"During his tenure as radio's leading advocate he provided tremendous leadership and guidance," wrote Farber. "Under his direction, the RAB increased its membership and introduced and advanced numerous sales training programs. He spearheaded radio to the forefront in media accountability, playing a dominant role in the development of RAEL working with advertisers, agencies and broadcasters to further the industry's understanding of how radio advertising works. He also encouraged radio to embrace electronic data interchange, urging the industry to adopt electronic invoicing."

"On a personal note," Farber said, "Gary and I partnered together on many initiatives and I always found a welcoming partner and friend. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time."

Fries spent more than fifty years and his entire career in radio. He oversaw the RAB from 1991 to December, 2006. Previously, he served as President/COO of Transtar Radio Network, President of Unistar Radio Networks, President/COO of the Radio Division at Sunbelt Communications and VP of ITC Communications and VP of Multimedia Broadcasting. Fries also served as board chairman of the Bayliss Foundation. In 2006, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association.