Jerry Lee

Inducted 2001

Born:  April 20, 1946, Sharon, PA

Jerry Lee's achievements stand as a testament to his passion for the radio industry, his commitment to service, and his generosity to community and industry.

President and co-owner of WHEB-FM in Philadelphia, Lee built his reputation on his ability to develop a top-rated FM station in an AM market.  In 1963 he designed a beautiful music format for the new station (then WDVR) which became the first big success in FM and was instrumental in establishing the viability of the FM band.

Lee built his station into the largest stand-alone FM in the country, and through sales and marketing innovations and the implementation of new technologies, he has sustained its position as a top-rated station in a market dominated by group-owned stations.  Lee was the first to use television as a marketing tool.  His was the first FM station to bill one million dollars and among the first radio stations to use digital technologies.

Lee was featured in a September 2000 issue of Broadcasting & Cable as an independent radio broadcaster with a strong commitment to community service.  He believes that the broadcasting media can serve as a catalyst for social change and the success of his radio station affords him the opportunity and resources to act on this belief.  His interests include education, literacy, and crime prevention.

In 1982 he worked with the National Association of Broadcasters to create the Broadcast Industry Council to Improve American Productivity.  The Council spearheaded national campaigns to improve literacy in the workplace, secure quality control of products, and increase product export volume.  Lee received two Presidential Private Sector Initiative Awards for his work in this area.

Lee works with the Philadelphia School System to help students improve reading and study skills and funds programs at the University of Maryland where he chairs the Advisory Board of the University's School of Criminology Preventing Crime Program. He has endowed a Center for Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania which researches and publicizes crime prevention programs.  He is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Fels Center of Government at the University.

Lee serves on the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and was chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Salvation Army Advisory Board.  He serves on the Boards of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Radio Advertising Bureau, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.  He is a member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia and was inducted into their Hall of Fame and named "Person of the Year" in 1997.