Harold Engel
1903-1985
Biographical Information:
From 1931 to 1968, Harold Engel was associated with WHA radio and television at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During these years, he promoted educational broadcasting in the state during the formative years of radio television.
At WHA, Engel served as the director of physical planning, legislative and public relations and publicity. His work at WHA included production of a children’s safety program as well as organization of other educational programs such as the Wisconsin College of the Air, 1933. As a long-time assistant director of WHA, Engel actively participated in the expansion of the station's facilities. This included a move to Radio Hall in 1934 and the early planning and promotion in the 1950's and 1960's of a communication arts building on the University of Wisconsin campus. His desire to increase WHA services led to attempts to secure a clear channel (unsuccessful) in the 1930's, FM in the late 1940's, and television in the early 1950's.
Engel's activity in behalf of educational broadcasting extended beyond the confines of WHA's operations. He championed the construction of a state-wide FM network and fought against the encroachments of commercial radio and television broadcasters. Also, during much of his tenure at WHA, Engel served as professor of radio (and later television) education at the University of Wisconsin.
In addition to his work in Wisconsin, Engel
served
as a consultant to the New Mexico Radio Service (1935-1936), to the
Rocky
Mountain Public Radio Council (1937), and to the Philippines in 1950
(as a
Fulbright Scholar) and 1966-1967 (as a UNESCO consultant). He also
spent some
time in 1945 studying the operation of the British Broadcasting
Corporation. Engel's organizational
affiliations include the Wisconsin
State Radio Council, Wisconsin Broadcasters' Association, National Association
of Educational Broadcasters (Executive Secretary, 1938-1941;
President,
1941-1942, 1946-1948), and the National Association of FM Broadcasters
(Educational
Director, 1963-1964).
Harold Engel died on November 15, 1985
Bibliography:
- Engel, Harold A. "Wisconsin Radio Pattern," NAEB Journal, Vol. 17, No. 4 (January 1958): pp. 3-5 ff.
- Engel, Harold A. "The Oldest Station in the Nation," NAEB Journal, Vol. 18, No. 5 (February 1959): pp. 3-5 ff.
Other Resources:
The Papers of Harold Engel -- Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin (http://www.wisconsinhistory.org).
Interview with Harold Engel and Harold McCarty conducted by Steven Lowe -- Library of Congress microform (Call number: Microfiche 82/306, no. 17 (F))
