james H. QUELLO

James H. Quello’s 50-year career in radio had taken him from the Motor City to the halls of America’s government.

Quello was born in Laurium, Michigan in 1914 and started his broadcast career in 1945, when he joined the promotions department at WXYZ/Detroit. Two years later, Quello moved to rival station WJR and became Vice-President and General Manager in 1960. When Capital Cities Broadcasting purchased WJR, Quello became WJR station manager and a Capital Cities vice-president. He also served on Detroit’s Housing and Urban Renewal Commission for 21 years.

In 1974, President Richard M. Nixon made Quello a Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission. Quello served as FCC Commissioner for over 20 years, overseeing the evolution and deregulation of radio and television broadcasting during a period of enormous technological and social change. He stepped down as Commissioner in 1998.

Quello has earned numerous accolades during his career, including a Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Broadcasters and the first Milestone Award from the Institute for Communications Law Studies at the Catholic University of America.

James H. Quello died on January 24, 2010.

He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.