RICHARD D. JAMES, 71 Was radio executive, YSU professor

YOUNGSTOWN -- Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Home for Richard D. James, 71, of 3460 Flo-Lor Drive No. 3, who died, apparently of a heart attack, Thursday in Greenville, S.C., while traveling.
Mr. James was born Dec. 19, 1929, in Youngstown, a son of Talliesin J. and Nelle R. Wright James.
A radio broadcast executive for both WBBW and WKBN, he also was a professor of telecommunication studies at Youngstown State University.
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in broadcasting and telecommunications from Kent State University. During his retirement, he joined the staff of WNIO in Niles as part of their "Music and Memories" air staff.
His career experiences included Great Trails Broadcasting in Springfield, Ohio, and Elliot Broadcasting in Akron. Between 1962 and 1982, he was vice president and general manager of WBBW and WQOD in Youngstown. In 1968, he was elected to the Radio Affiliates Board of the Entertainment Network at ABC, where he served as its chairman. In 1971, he was elected president of the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, having served six terms as a member of its board.
In 1982, he became a full-service faculty member at YSU in its speech communications and theater departments, was promoted to assistant professor and gained tenure in 1987. He served as coordinator for telecommunication studies in the department until his retirement in January 1993. Although retired, he continued to teach as a limited-service faculty member until 1994, and the university's trustee board conferred on him the title of professor emeritus.
He was a member of the Disciples of Christ Church, Sulgrave Masonic Lodge 696 of Youngstown, and the communication committee of the American Heart Association. A regular reader of the Youngstown Radio Reading Service, he helped to establish YSU's Institute for Learning in Retirement.
He was an Army veteran who served from 1953 to 1955.
He leaves his son, Douglas C. of Boardman.
There are no calling hours. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association of Mahoning Valley.
4/13/01