Jan McDaniel

is honored with a Large Paver from Mary Beal

Jan McDaniel is a woman who uses the power of television to give back to the community. She didn't mind standing up voicing her opinion to not air a TV show that she felt had too much violence. The script was modified by the producers.

She grew up in St. Louis, spent twelve years in the East Coast before coming to Kansas. CBS television may have stolen her away to Minnesota, but she is still an ambassador of Wichita.

Jan McDaniel has the unusual ability to empower people. Jan never missed the opportunity to promote Wichita even though she lived here a short time.

CAREER
Jan has spent her life in television and radio communications. She is currently Vice President & General Manager, WCCO-TV, Minneapolis MN, a CBS affiliate. McDaniel returned to CBS from KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kansas, where she had been President and General Manager of the station and of the Kansas Television Network since 1991.

She joined KAKE-TV in 1988 as News Director, and two years later became Vice President of News and Operations. In 1990, she was promoted to Acting General Manager of KAKE-TV and the Kansas Television Network (KAKE-TV, Channel 10, Wichita; KUPK-TV, Channel 13, Garden City; and KLBY-TV, Channel 4, Colby).

Prior to that, she was Washington Bureau Chief for Chronicle Broadcasting Company stations KRON-TV San Francisco, WOWT-TV Omaha and KAKE-TV. McDaniel spent nine years at CBS News, where she began as a radio news writer, editor and producer (1975-76), and then became News Assignment Manager for the CBS News Washington Bureau (1976-84). Before that, she was Executive Editor at WEEI-AM, the CBS-owned radio station in Boston.

She is a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, where she also worked in news at KOMU-TV and KBIA-FM Columbia, MO.

She is a member of industry organizations including Women in Communications and Kansas Association of Broadcasters.

BOARDS AND COUNCILS
Jan has served Kansas and her community by serving on various administrative boards:
Kansas Society for Crippled Children.
National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Via Christi Medical Center.
Kansas Newman College.
Cities in Schools.
Minority Business Development Council.
Arkansas River Foundation.
Young Presidents Organization.

WISDOM
Don't give up - Take control of your life.

Submitted by Mary Beal

September 5, 1998
Mary grew up in the mining town of Jerome, Arizona. In 1987 she moved to Wichita, Kansas. During her time here she lost her 23 year old son to a senseless murder. Upon her leaving Wichita, she helped establish, through the Greater Wichita Community Foundation, an enrichment scholarship program to help "at risk" children in middle school. The Brian David Higby Fund is permanently endowed and the scholarships are awarded each May.

Although Mary has moved from Wichita to Santa Fe, she has left a lasting imprint on the community and the hearts and minds of Wichitans through her media presence and community service.

CAREER
She is the radio talk show host of Live Line America on Radio America Network.
Other radio positions include:
Station/Program Manager for KNSS in Wichita, Kansas.
Owner and Vice President of FEM-RAY for KKHG in Tucson, Arizona.
Talk Show Host, KNST, Tucson, Arizona.
Program Manager for WOKV in Jacksonville, Florida.

BOARDS AND COUNCILS
National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts, President, in 1991 and 1992.
National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts, Chair, from 1991-93.
Government Liaison of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
American Lung Association, Florida and Arizona.
Project Freedom Anti-Drug Coalition.
Parallax Inc, Drug Treatment Center.
YWCA of Wichita.
Charity Classic, St. Joseph Medical Center.
Emerald Ball, St. Joseph Medical Center.
Brian D. Higby Fund, President.
Sedgwick County Comprehensive Plan Committee.

HONORS AND AWARDS
First Place for Large Market Editorial Commentary from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
First Place for a Public Affairs Program from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Overall Campaign of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
Congressional Quarterly's Nation's Top Ten Talkmeisters.
Unity 1994 Broadcast Critic by the Radio and Television News Directors Federation.
National Association of Broadcasters "Crystal Award" as an Overall Community Service Radio Programming Finalist, and received a Red Ribbon for Outstanding Community Service to Effect Change in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.
Quality Improvement Certified by the Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University where she served on the Advisory Board of the Elliott School of Communications after having received their Golden Quill Award for Outstanding Education Reporting.
Outstanding Service Award from the American Heart Association.
Steve Yates Media Award.
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America.

WISDOM
Honor yourself first.

Submitted by Georgia Bradford

September 5, 1998