1932
McHenry
2009
McHenry (Mac) Taylor Tichenor
June 2, 1932 — January 3, 2009
McHenry Taylor Tichenor, Sr.
June 2, 1932 – January 3, 2009
Round Rock/Harlingen, TX:
Radio broadcasting pioneer McHenry (“Mac”) Taylor Tichenor, one of the foremost developers of the Hispanic radio industry in the United States, died in Round Rock, Texas, of natural causes on January 3, 2009, at the age of 76.
The only son of McHenry and Genevieve Tichenor, Mac was born in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in Harlingen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Mr. Tichenor attended Washington and Lee University and earned a BBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After a two-year enlistment in the Navy during the Korean conflict, he returned to UT Austin to earn a law degree. During his senior year, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” While attending college, Mac met his future wife, Carolyn White of Dallas, whom he married in 1954. They had four children, Mac Jr., Warren, Jean, and Bill. Years later, Mac remarried and had another son, David.
After graduating from law school in 1956, Mr. Tichenor returned to the Rio Grande Valley to work in the family broadcasting business started by his father. He worked in sales and later in management at the company’s CBS television station and its Spanish-language radio station, both with the call letters KGBT.
Mr. Tichenor became President of his family’s company, Tichenor Media System (TMS) in 1967 at the age of 35 and oversaw its expansion in both English and Spanish language media. In 1982, Mr. Tichenor stepped back from his day-to-day role in the company and focused on strategy as its Vice-Chairman of the Board, while taking time to enjoy his hobbies, sailing and astronomy. During this time, he resided in Jensen Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he was a member of the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church.
In 1997, TMS merged with Heftel Broadcasting to become the nation’s largest Hispanic radio group with 38 radio stations in every major U.S. Hispanic market. In 2004, HBC merged with Univision Communications.
During the last years of his life, Mr. Tichenor pursued a dream of bringing a professional sports franchise to the Rio Grande Valley. Throughout his life he had a strong faith and engaged in quiet philanthropy.
In 2005 the Tichenor Family was inducted into the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s “Giants in Broadcasting.” Most recently, in 2006 Mac received the prestigious Broadcaster’s Foundation of America Pioneer Award which was presented at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention April, 2006.
Mr. Tichenor enjoyed the friendship and devotion of his long-time companion, Priscilla Flores. He is survived by five children, McHenry T. Tichenor, Jr., Warren White Tichenor, Jean Tullis Tichenor, William Edward Tichenor, and David Tucker Tichenor, and numerous grandchildren.
Graveside services are scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, at 11:00 a.m. at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to Frank Ferree Border Relief, 2403 N. 7th St., Harlingen, Texas, 78550-3909.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX.
June 2, 1932 – January 3, 2009
Round Rock/Harlingen, TX:
Radio broadcasting pioneer McHenry (“Mac”) Taylor Tichenor, one of the foremost developers of the Hispanic radio industry in the United States, died in Round Rock, Texas, of natural causes on January 3, 2009, at the age of 76.
The only son of McHenry and Genevieve Tichenor, Mac was born in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in Harlingen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Mr. Tichenor attended Washington and Lee University and earned a BBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After a two-year enlistment in the Navy during the Korean conflict, he returned to UT Austin to earn a law degree. During his senior year, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” While attending college, Mac met his future wife, Carolyn White of Dallas, whom he married in 1954. They had four children, Mac Jr., Warren, Jean, and Bill. Years later, Mac remarried and had another son, David.
After graduating from law school in 1956, Mr. Tichenor returned to the Rio Grande Valley to work in the family broadcasting business started by his father. He worked in sales and later in management at the company’s CBS television station and its Spanish-language radio station, both with the call letters KGBT.
Mr. Tichenor became President of his family’s company, Tichenor Media System (TMS) in 1967 at the age of 35 and oversaw its expansion in both English and Spanish language media. In 1982, Mr. Tichenor stepped back from his day-to-day role in the company and focused on strategy as its Vice-Chairman of the Board, while taking time to enjoy his hobbies, sailing and astronomy. During this time, he resided in Jensen Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he was a member of the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church.
In 1997, TMS merged with Heftel Broadcasting to become the nation’s largest Hispanic radio group with 38 radio stations in every major U.S. Hispanic market. In 2004, HBC merged with Univision Communications.
During the last years of his life, Mr. Tichenor pursued a dream of bringing a professional sports franchise to the Rio Grande Valley. Throughout his life he had a strong faith and engaged in quiet philanthropy.
In 2005 the Tichenor Family was inducted into the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s “Giants in Broadcasting.” Most recently, in 2006 Mac received the prestigious Broadcaster’s Foundation of America Pioneer Award which was presented at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention April, 2006.
Mr. Tichenor enjoyed the friendship and devotion of his long-time companion, Priscilla Flores. He is survived by five children, McHenry T. Tichenor, Jr., Warren White Tichenor, Jean Tullis Tichenor, William Edward Tichenor, and David Tucker Tichenor, and numerous grandchildren.
Graveside services are scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, at 11:00 a.m. at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to Frank Ferree Border Relief, 2403 N. 7th St., Harlingen, Texas, 78550-3909.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX.
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