WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 26, 2026 – Kate Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), issued the following statement today on the passing of Carolyn Bailey Lewis, Former General Manager of WOUB Public Media at Ohio University.
“America’s Public Television Stations are saddened by the passing of Carolyn Bailey Lewis, a dedicated public media executive for nearly four decades. We are proud to have worked with Carolyn, both as a Board Member of APTS and as General Manager of WOUB Public Media in Athens, Ohio.
“Carolyn was the first woman and first African American to lead WOUB and the first woman to be Emerita of WOUB. She was also the first African American woman named to head a public television station in the continental United States. Her legacy of breaking down barriers and forging a path of inclusivity was meaningful and singular.
“Carolyn was an inspirational leader, dedicated and passionate about serving her local community. We are immensely grateful for her longstanding commitment to our public media system.
“Carolyn was deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders in public media. She was unwavering in sharing her wisdom, expertise and insights. When I joined APTS in 2010, Carolyn was serving as a member of the APTS Board and I was lucky to learn from her.
“Carolyn enthusiastically brought students with her to Washington, D.C. every year for our annual advocacy conference, engaging students in our public media meetings and having them join her for meetings with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
“We mourn Carolyn’s loss, but we celebrate a life well lived, and we are grateful for her immense contributions to public television. Her legacy of service and mentorship will live forever.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues.”
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and community connections to their local areas and the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org