Cecil Heftel, Radio showman and former Congressman died

Heftel was a visionary broadcaster who contributed to the rise of local competitive radio. Many of today's radio staff management will read the headline of his passing and move on to the want ads with little thought about his demise.
In those real people days we even gave the chief engineer a place at the table unlike today's lineup where someone called the OM or PD, having lost their creative handle, if they are indeed veteran radio people, now move into controlling another corporate-dominated region of the business such as the technical department. This day and age the only names we would look for in the Obituary Column would be our own, or the guy who invented the equipment our corporate leaders selected for our "corporate sound". In those days each market created it's own sound and competitive edge unrelated to the home office 3000 miles away.
Thank you Cecil Heftel for risking your time and money on a bringing people to the old radio dial for about 30 years of their lives before wholesale became our industry standard.

Cec was probably the greatest broadcaster I have ever known. A truly remarkable owner. He and his partner Carl Parmer built a Spanish radio empire . His emphasis on great local personalities, bigger than life promotions and allowing his managers to do their jobs created Top ranked stations. Cecil always surrounded himself with professionals such as Bill Tanner and John Rook. He treated his people well and always honored his commitments. Thank you Cecil Heftel for providing me the opportunity to have worked for you in two markets.
I will NEVER forget your contribution to my career.

David R DuBose
WBHK.WBHJ.WENN.WAGG
Birmingham, Alabama

2/13/10--I was sorry to see Cec has died. My condolences to his wife Joyce if she's still living and his children. I did not know Cec and Joyce had seven children. Wow, what a nice family. I tried to contact Cec last year via an e-mail address, but I did not receive a response. His name came up in a matter at my present office, Stein, Mitchell & Muse, in D.C. I knew Cec in the 70's when my boss David H. Lloyd (Arnold & Porter) represented Cec and Heftel Broadcasting in FCC matters. I'll never forget Cec hurriedly making up a "balance sheet" on the spot when we needed an exhibit one time. Cec tried to "steal" me, offering me a job with him in Hawaii for five years. He could never get over how I could pull out any piece of paper asked for from five filing cabinets of Heftel B/C documents. I wish I had been in a position to accept his offer. I still hope to visit Hawaii before I leave this earth. Cec and I had a nice "catch-up" conversation when he was first elected to Congress. I was in San Diego visiting my nephew in December. If I had known Cec was there I certainly would have tried to see him. I hate to think of him gone. I presently work for soon to be 85-year-old Jake Stein. I'd love to have a conversation with whoever might take the time to call me and hear about Cec's recent life. My home number is 703-658-8728, and my cell phone is 703-989-9409. Again, my condolences. Rosemary P. Rhew, Springfield, VA.