For Immediate Release Contact: Molly Kelly (312)705-2632 Weigel Broadcasting Co. Announces the Passing of Chairman Howard Shapiro May 24, 2012 – Chicago - It is with deep sorrow that Weigel Broadcasting Co. announces the passing of its Chairman Howard Shapiro. A larger than life figure in Chicago business and broadcasting for decades, Howard guided Weigel Broadcasting from a struggling single UHF television station in Chicago, to a company with more than ten stations in three markets as well as involvement in two national broadcast networks. As recently as last week Howard, at age 86, was in his office signing checks, conducting business and telling stories as only Howard could. Those who really knew Howard knew that his sometimes gruff exterior masked a very warm and caring human being who put family first. Howard ran Weigel Broadcasting with this same sense of caring, but with a much extended family. His devotion to serving the under-served was his mantra and is a guiding force in all of Weigel’s business pursuits. A graduate of Purdue University, Howard received a BS degree in electrical engineering. While at Purdue he worked at WBAA Radio, as well at a local commercial radio station. In addition, he participated in a Navy program while attending the University and upon graduation was commissioned during World War II. After the war, he pursued graduate studies at Northwestern University. His life-long love affair with television began in 1964 when he was one of the first advertisers on WCIU-TV, Chicago’s first UHF television station. His iconic advertisements were for C.E.T., a television retailer that Howard founded in 1949. Longtime Chicagoans will remember C.E.T.’s jingle and phone number, Mohawk 4-4100. He later bought stock in the financially troubled station and eventually took over operations and ownership through the late sixties and early seventies. Howard was president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences from 1983 to 1987, and was awarded its prestigious Silver Circle Award in 1997. Howard was married to Jacqueline Cooper Shapiro who preceded him in death in 2003. He is survived by his three sons Norman (Lilli Scheye), Ken, and David Shapiro and daughter Caroline (Barry) Smith, and four grandchildren; Alissa, Emma, Sydnie, and Landon. The often used phrase, “when they made him, they threw away the mold” truly applied to Howard. He was a larger-than-life visionary that leaves a legacy of family, entrepreneurship and service. He will be sorely missed. Funeral arrangements are pending. About Weigel Broadcasting Co. Weigel Broadcasting Co. and affiliate companies own and operate The U/WCIU-TV 26.1, The U Too/ WCIU-TV 26.2, Me-TV/WCIU-TV 26.3, Me-Too/WCIU-TV 26.4, THIS/ WCIU-TV 26.5, WWME-CA 23, WMEU-CA 48 in Chicago, IL; CBS/WDJT-TV 58.1, WMLW/WDJT-TV 58.2, THIS/WDJT-TV 58.3, Shorewest TV/WDJT- TV 58.4, WMLW-CA 41, WMLW-LD 41.1, Me-TV/WBME-TV 49.1, Telemundo/WBME-TV 49.4, Telemundo/WYTU-LD 63.1, Me-TV/WYTU-LP 63 in Milwaukee, WI; and ABC/WBND-LD 57.1, Me-TV/WBND-LD 57.2, CW/WCWW-TV 25.1, THIS/WCWW-TV 25.2, My Michiana/WMYS-TV 69.1 in South Bend, IN. Weigel Broadcasting Co. also owns and operates the Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment Television network and in collaboration with MGM, created and operates THIStv Network. ###.