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12-13-2022
In 1979, Russell M. Perry started the Perry Publishing Company with it’s first edition Oklahoma City’s The Black Chronicle newspaper.
The Black Chronicle newspaper, a weekly periodical servicing the Oklahoma City metro area’s African American population, has grown into one of the largest paid weekly newspapers in the state of Oklahoma. Currently, The Black Chronicle services the entire state of Oklahoma – (i.e., Tulsa, Lawton/Ft. Sill, and Oklahoma City).
In 1993, with the purchase of KVSP 1140 AM in Oklahoma City, Perry formed the Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Company, Inc. KVSP AM became the first urban-formatted radio station for Oklahoma City in more than fifteen years.
In 1994, PPBC purchased KJMM-FM in Tulsa, Oklahoma to give Tulsa and all of Green Country its first full signal FM Urban radio station.
In 1996. PPBC purchased its first duopoly with KJMZ & KKRX both servicing Lawton/Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. KJMZ was turned to an Urban format and KKRX was turned to an Urban AC format a first of both formats for Lawton/Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
In 1999, PPBC purchased KGTO in Tulsa, providing the company a duopoly in Tulsa. KGTO was then turned to an Urban AC radio station.
In 2000, PPBC started a statewide television program, The Urban Outlet. This program features music videos and interviews dignitaries from throughout the state and nation as well as from national and local entertainers.
In 2001, the company purchased five additional radio stations — KKEN, KDDQ, KRPT, KPNS, and KXCA licensed to Duncan, Lawton/Ft. Sill, Comanche, and Anadarko, all in Oklahoma. Among these radio stations the formats are Classic Country, Classic Rock, News Talk, Sports Talk and Hot Country.
In 2003, PPBC built a 2,000 ft tower in Caddo County, Oklahoma to move KRPT FM into Oklahoma City making it a Full C in power, a 100,000 watts. KRPT FM call letters were changed to KVSP FM and Oklahoma City had its first Urban FM radio station in more than 15 years.
In 2005, PPBC purchased KACO and now operates it as a Classic Country radio station for Lawton/Ft. Sill and Anadarko, Oklahoma.
In 2007, PPBC made its first purchase of radio stations outside the state of Oklahoma. Five Augusta,Georgia / South Carolina radio stations were purchased – WFXA FM, WAKB FM, WTHB FM, WAEG FM and WTHB AM, effectively creating the Perry Broadcasting of Augusta division.
Chair of the Day
Dr. Valerie Thompson is a strategic and visionary executive with demonstrated experience in housing development, fiscal management, personnel management, and program evaluation. She is an executive leader who grew the organization from approximately $750K to a multi-facet organization including subsidiaries with approximately $20 million in assets. Dr. Thompson has built an executive team with over 75 years of experience collectively. She provides strong leadership for nonprofit organizations and corporate partnerships working to further the mission of the Urban League to assist African Americans, other minorities and the poor achieve social and economic equality. Since 1999, Dr. Valerie Thompson has served as the second female president and CEO for the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City in
the affiliate’s 75-year history.
Dr. Thompson is also a passionate advocate for issues that affect the underserved by serving on local and national boards such as the Governor’s Workforce and Education Council, the City of OKC MAPS Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust, the City of OKC MAPS 3 and MAPS4 subcommittees, Potts Family Foundation, Oklahoma Economic Club, Inc., and the First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City. Dr. Thompson was presented with the National Association of Social Workers Oklahoma chapter Public Citizen of the Year award, National Urban League Woman of Power Award, and was recognized by the Journal Record’s as one of “50 Making a Difference” Woman of the Year honorees. Dr. Thompson was also the recipient of the Oklahoma State University Black Alumni Association Trailblazer award. In addition to her numerous accolades, Dr. Thompson has been recognized as one of the most powerful
women in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Thompson has served as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University’s School of Social Work for over 14 years. Dr. Thompson’s research and professional interests remain in nonprofit strategic planning and program evaluation. Her publications were published in Action Learning and Action Research Journal titled “Action Research and Development for Intrinsic Innovation in Social Service Administration: Prototyping and Proof of Concept in Small Scale Start-ups” and in the International Handbook of Action Research titled “Donor Influence in Community-Based Action Research: A Typology for Advancing Reflexive Decision-Making to Protect Essential Participatory Values”
Dr. Thompson received a doctorate in political science and a master’s of business administration from the University of Oklahoma. She also has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.