Perry first black man to be named to broadcasters hall of fame

Saturday, February 25th 2006, 11:23 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Russell Perry still gets a little upset when he talks about the day he left The Black Dispatch to start The Black Chronicle, Oklahoma's longest running black newspaper.

Perry, 67, says he remembers smiling as he stood on the Senate floor about 38 years ago while receiving accolades with former Dispatch colleagues for the success the paper had found. But, that smile soon faded after a co-worker blasted him and his wife in front Senate members, Perry said.

Two of Perry's former colleagues were doctors, but Perry, a college dropout, hadn't come from a similar background. After graduating from Oklahoma City's Douglass High School, he went to Maryland State University, but left after two years because he didn't have the finances to continue his education.

``Me and my wife were standing there and when it was time for him to introduce us to the Senate he said: You see them? They aren't like us. He doesn't have an education.

``After that, we had a few words. I got my wife, she was so embarrassed, and we left. And, then, I ran over them like a Mac truck.''

Perry established The Black Chronicle in April 1979, and The Black Dispatch went out of business within the next 18 months.

``It takes a man to stand up for what he believes in,'' Perry said. ``As an African-American man in the business world, I've had my share of challenges.

``No, it hasn't always been easy, but I just decided that with hard work, nobody would keep me from getting what I wanted.''

He now owns Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Co., which includes 12 state radio stations, The Black Chronicle and Urban Outlet, a cable television program. Perry, who spent five years as secretary of commerce under former Gov. Frank Keating, is also a member of the advisory council for the Kansas City Federal Reserve _ just one of six bank director's boards he's sat on.

And on Feb. 16, he became the first black man to be inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

``It feels good,'' Perry said Friday. ``It shows that we (black people) can succeed. And, it's about working in excellence because they don't just give this to you.''

Perry was named to the Hall of Fame along with Brad Edwards, a reporter for Oklahoma City's KFOR-TV. They will be honored at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner on March 31 in Oklahoma City.

Kevin Perry, Russell Perry's youngest of three children and the chief operating officer of Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Co., says his father is a hard businessman but fair.

``I used to have hair and a black beard when I first started working for him,'' said Kevin Perry, 34, laughing and rubbing his salt-and-pepper facial hair. ``But, seriously, my dream when he only had his newspaper was to work for my father.

``He leads people from all walks of life and he's someone everybody can look up to.''

In October 2005, the elder Perry acquired a hip-hop clothing store called The Source, located in northeast Oklahoma City. Customers from Anadarko, Lawton and Tulsa frequent the store regularly, Tiffany Williams, The Source's weekend manager, said.

Russell Perry is one of Williams' greatest inspirations, she said. A young mother of two boys, Williams said she appreciates Perry's consistent encouragement.

``Every chance he gets, he pulls us to the side and tells us to stay focused,'' she said. ``He teaches us about entrepreneurship and to walk with our heads up.''

Albert Lindsey, who has been managing editor of The Black Chronicle for the past 25 years, says his boss has ``dynamic entrepreneurial and leadership abilities.''

``He is a hands-on boss,'' Lindsey, 59, said. ``He recognizes the limits and talents of his employees and allows them to capitalize on what they have to offer.''

In the future, Russell Perry said he wants to see his company continue to expand and provide more jobs for Oklahomans.

``I have a tremendous amount of faith in God, faith in myself, and I think I'm a good businessman,'' he said.