ASU names new communications facility for Beasley
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on November 19, 2007 1:45 PM
BOONE -- A new radio and television complex in Appalachian State University's Department of Communication has been named for broadcasting entrepreneur and former Goldsboro Board of Education member George G. Beasley of Naples, Fla., following action taken by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.
The George G. Beasley Broadcasting Complex will open in 2010.
Beasley, who earned bachelor of science and master of arts degrees in business education from Appalachian and is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. Beasley started the company in Benson in 1961 and today owns 44 AM and FM radio stations in 11 markets across the United States.
A gift from Beasley to the Appalachian State University Foundation will be used for the construction and renovation of the facility.
"George Beasley well knows how a college education can change a person's life," said Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock.
As a young man, Beasley left his family's tobacco farm and joined the Army in order to pay for college.
Renovations to the broadcasting complex will then begin with a tentative grand opening set for spring 2010.
The facility will house the WASU-FM radio complex, with offices for student workers and the station manager, two production suites, a classroom wired for audio/video production, a computer lab and four audio labs.
Beasley has served on Appalachian's Foundation Board of Directors since 1996 and the university's Board of Trustees since 2001.