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Walker Named CBA Master, Returns to Meet with Students

Cecil L. Walker, a 1959 graduate of the College of Business Administration, was named the 2013 CBA Master. While on campus for Alumni Master’s Week, Nov. 13-15, he will speak to classes, student organizations and faculty, and share his insight of managing a major corporation in the broadcasting industry.
 
At Gannett Broadcasting, a media and marketing solutions company with a diverse portfolio of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing companies, Walker climbed the corporate ladder from working at a news affiliate to running the company as president and chief executive officer in 1987.
 
Under Walker’s leadership, Gannett Broadcasting built one of the strongest groups of locally managed TV and radio stations.
 
Cecil Walker with Dean Plowman

“Each local manager was given the responsibility of autonomy, which was based on knowledge and understanding the culture of Gannett Broadcasting,” he said.
 
Over his career he saw a huge shift in how people receive their news and entertainment and positioned Gannett Broadcasting for a more connected and digital world.
 
“This shift has been an ongoing activity for broadcasters since the late 1940s when TV was introduced,” he said. “We used individuals and committees of the staff and board to monitor, brainstorm and initiate action.”
 
He retired in 2002 from his position as chairman and chief executive officer. He continued to serve on boards including the Board of Directors at Broadcast Music, Inc., a global leader in music rights management. He was on their board from 1998 to 2013 and served as chairman from 2004 to 2007. With BMI, he worked with renowned musical artists like Gloria Estefan, Dolly Parton, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.
 
Walker and his wife, Jeanette "Jan" Turner Walker, ‘59, have three children and 11 grandchildren. They have a special interest in developing the leaders of tomorrow and have established annual awards of Walker Family Scholarships at several universities, including Nebraska.  
Cecil Walker

Cecil Walker receiving his award with Nebraska Alumni Association Executive Director Diane Mendenhall

Published: November 14, 2013