Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced that Ralph M. Oakley, a respected leader in local broadcasting, will receive the Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award in recognition of his distinguished career and enduring commitment to local television. The award will be presented on March 3, 2026, during a special radio and television broadcasting 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 began his broadcasting career in 1977 with Quincy Newspapers, Inc., later known as Quincy Media, working at WGEM AM-FM-TV in Quincy, Ill. He went on to hold a variety of roles at WSJV-TV in South Bend-Elkhart, Ind, and WVVA-TV in Bluefield-Beckley, W.Va., before joining the company’s corporate office.
Oakley served as president and chief executive officer of Quincy Media, Inc., beginning in 2009, leading 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 reinforced its role as a trusted source of local news and community service before the company sold its television stations to Gray Media and its newspapers to Phillips Media in 2021. His commitment to education and service also included longtime leadership at Quincy University in Illinois, where he served as chair and remains a member of the Board of Trustees and continues to volunteer in the advancement department, leading fundraising efforts.
Oakley currently owns Sullivan’s Landing, LLC, which owns WJMN-TV in Marquette, Mich., serving the Upper Peninsula with locally focused news, weather and community programming. The station operates under a shared sales and services agreement with Morgan Murphy Media.
Throughout his career, Oakley has held numerous leadership roles within the broadcasting industry. He is a former member of the NAB Board of Directors and he served on its Executive Committee. He also served as a trustee and co-chair of NAB’s Political Action Committee and a board member of the NAB Leadership Foundation. He served on the Television Bureau of Advertising Board of Directors and the ABC Affiliate Board of Governors. In addition, he is a former chairman of the NBC Affiliates Association and the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) and was previously honored as the IBA’s Broadcaster of the Year.
Oakley’s civic leadership includes serving as founding chairman 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. His work with nonprofit and social service organizations reflects a lifelong dedication to strengthening local communities.
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