Television group owner Chester Smith has died at age 78. His Sainte Partners II owns a group of full- and low-power TV stations in California and Oregon. But before building his TV group, Smith was a Country Music recording artist and owner of a Modesto radio station. His recording career was revived in 2001 when he released a Country Gospel album with his close friend, Merle Haggard. Smith died of heart failure on August 8th.
