Veteran Media Exec Bob McCurdy Dies After Cancer Battle

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | 9:45pm CT

Bob McCurdy

Radio sales and management executive Bob McCurdy has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. McCurdy was a tremendous influence on many in the industry. His competitive drive, his thirst for knowledge, his discipline and his work ethic impacted everyone who had a chance to work with him.

McCurdy retired as Vice President of Corporate Sales at Beasley Media Group last April. He previously served as a consultant for Beasley Media Group and Alpha Broadcasting from 2014-2016 and was named Vice President of Corporate Sales for the Beasley in 2016. He began his professional career selling radio locally in Richmond, VA, before moving on to working in sales and management in Indianapolis.

The media veteran eventually joined Katz Radio, where he held sales and management positions in Chicago, Minneapolis and New York. McCurdy was named President of Katz Radio in 1990 and went on to become President of Sentry Radio under the Katz Radio Group umbrella, before being named Regional President for Clear Channel Radio Sales upon Clear Channel's purchase of the Katz Media Group. In 2009, he became the President of Katz Marketing Solutions, a division of the Katz Radio Group.

Radio was McCurdy's second choice career as he was an All-American basketball player and the leading scorer in the nation while playing for the University of Richmond in 1975. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and anticipated a long NBA career. When injuries curtailed his pursuit of that dream he set his sights upon another.

He recently completed a book about leadership, culture and sales. In it he writes, "It has often been said that one can never tell where a teacher's influence ends. The same is true with leaders. As leaders, we are teachers and as with teachers you can never tell where an effective leader's influence ends. That makes for an amazing legacy."

In a statement, Caroline Beasley said, "Bob was a trusted confidant, a valued advisor and an incredible ambassador on behalf of the Beasley Media Group family and the radio industry. His love and passion for the business could be seen and heard in everything he did within our company as well as the industry. Bob will be greatly missed and will be forever remembered as a beloved member of our family."

McCudy is survived by his wife Sydney, his daughters Meagan and Ashley, his sons Michael and Sean, his stepchildren Margaret, Charlie and Will Emerson and his seven grandchildren.