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Eugene Danzey
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Gene Danzey, a former chef turned Tampa Bay broadcast executive, began his radio career at WTMP in 1963 as an account executive, the first African-American salesperson for a major area broadcaster. In 1967, he was promoted to sales manager and then, in 1970, to vice-president and general manager.
Six years after that, the life-long Tampa resident helped found the first black-owned radio station in the market, WRXB-AM 1590 in St. Pete Beach, and was president of Rolyn Broadcasting, its owner. The station remained in the family until it was sold to Missouri-based Metropolitan Radio Group in 1999.
Danzey was a former president of the Pinellas County Urban League, past president of the St. Petersburg Economic Development Commission, former chairman of the Pinellas County Housing Authority, and a past board member of the United Negro College Fund. In 2005, he was inducted into the Pinellas Education Foundation’s Free Enterprise Hall of Honor, a tribute to area community leaders who grew their businesses into some of the most progressive in the nation.
J. Eugene Danzey passed away in Tampa from Alzheimers on May 29, 2012 at the age of 78. Although actually born in Alford, FL, he was raised in Tampa, graduated from Middleton High School, and attended Gibbs Junior College.
Station History
1963 - 1970 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (Sales)
1970 - 1999 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (Management)
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