NAB To Honour Ralph M. Oakley With Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that Ralph M. Oakley, a long-standing figure in local broadcasting, will receive the Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award for his distinguished career and sustained support of local television. The honour will be presented on 3 March 2026 during a special radio and television awards presentation at the NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

"Ralph Oakley exemplifies the spirit of local broadcasting through his steadfast leadership, deep community commitment and lifelong service to others," said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. "His work inside and outside of our industry has strengthened local journalism, expanded access to educational opportunities and advanced the values that define our industry. Ralph has long been a trusted voice and guiding force for broadcasters nationwide, and we are proud to honor him with this well-deserved recognition at the NAB State Leadership Conference."

Oakley entered broadcasting in 1977 with Quincy Newspapers, Inc., later known as Quincy Media, starting at WGEM AM-FM-TV in Quincy, Ill. He subsequently held roles at WSJV-TV in South Bend-Elkhart, Ind., and WVVA-TV in Bluefield-Beckley, W.Va., before moving to the company's corporate office.

From 2009, Oakley served as president and chief executive officer of Quincy Media, Inc., a sixth-generation, family-owned media company that operated television stations in 16 markets, along with two daily newspapers and two radio stations. Under his leadership, Quincy Media strengthened its reputation as a trusted source of local news and community service before selling its television stations to Gray Media and its newspapers to Phillips Media in 2021. He also provided long-time leadership at Quincy University in Illinois, serving as chair and remaining on the Board of Trustees, while continuing to volunteer in the advancement department to lead fundraising efforts.

Oakley now owns Sullivan's Landing, LLC, which owns WJMN-TV in Marquette, Mich., delivering locally focused news, weather and community programming to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The station operates under a shared sales and services agreement with Morgan Murphy Media.

Across the industry, Oakley has held numerous leadership positions. He is a former member of the NAB Board of Directors and served on its Executive Committee. He was a trustee and co-chair of NAB's Political Action Committee and a board member of the NAB Leadership Foundation. He also served on the Television Bureau of Advertising Board of Directors and the ABC Affiliate Board of Governors, and is a former chairman of the NBC Affiliates Association and the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA), where he was previously honoured as Broadcaster of the Year.

His civic contributions include founding chairmanship of the Community Foundation for West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri and chairing the United Way of Adams County annual campaign. He also served on the boards of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce and the Quincy Public Schools Foundation, reflecting a lifelong commitment to strengthening local communities.

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