Joseph C. (Joe) Drilling was recognized by his peers as an innovator in the Broadcast Industry. He was one of the original 13 ABC affiliates and also one of the first chairman of the ABC affiliate board. In 1953, Joe was hired by J.E. O’Neill to help put KJEO-TV on the air. He served as General Manager until 1961 when he was hired by Storer Broadcasting to manage WJW-TV in Cleveland, Ohio. He was named President of Crowell Collier Broadcasting in Los Angeles from 1962-1968. Joe then started a new Broadcasting Company, Retlaw Broadcasting for the Walt Disney Family, and was named its President. The company’s first acquisition was KJEO-TV Cannel 47, which happily returned Joe and his family to Fresno. The company grew to 6 television stations by the time Joe retired in 1990. Joe is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Joyce Drilling; daughter, Denise Tucker and husband Ben. He was 85.
