Broadcast Pioneer Jerry Lopes Dead at 72

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, May 2, 2022 | 11:40am CT

Jerry Lopes

The broadcast industry has lost a true pioneer with the recent death of Jerry Lopes at age 72. Before his retirement in 2019, Lopes served as President of Program Operations & Affiliations at American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) for twenty-six years, and as member of the NABOB board of directors.

Lopes' broadcast career began with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service while serving in the United States Air Force, including a period in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1973. Originally from Providence, RI, he worked at several radio stations as an news talent. In 1974 he joined the staff of WILD-AM in Boston, then owned by Sheridan Broadcasting and would later become director of news, and eventually, in 1990 was promoted to VP/Programming and Operations, overseeing Sheridan's Pittsburgh corporate headquarters network operation.

In January of 1992, following the partnership announcement of Sheridan Broadcasting and New York-based National Black Network (NBN), leading to the creation of American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), Lopes was promoted to Executive Vice President of Program Operations & Affiliations. In August of 1993, he was elevated to the position he held until he retired.

In addition to his passion for delivering the news, Lopes also had a passion for Black college football. For over forty years he led a program of scholarships for student-athletes, which led to the establishment of the Black College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta and the Black College Football Hall of Fame Museum, which is included in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Lopes served for over a decade as a member of the NABOB Board of Directors. Regarding Jerry's tenure on the NABOB Board, NABOB President Jim Winston said, "Jerry was a major contributor to the success of NABOB during his time on the Board. He led NABOB "Get Out the Vote" campaigns for many years. In addition, he spearheaded the NABOB "Know Your Power" consumer education campaign, which educated our audiences about using their buying power to support Black owned businesses."

Jim Winston added, "Jerry was a really good person with a great sense of humor. He was very highly regarded throughout the broadcast industry. I and his NABOB colleagues considered him a good friend and will deeply miss him."