MacGregor's Bio & Obit from his family
Michael R. Lewis - Farmington Hills
The family of Byron MacGregor has asked to receive the various
recollections and condolences sent to the Radio/TV Dial Pages. Those can
be addressed to me at: lewi...@metronet.lib.mi.us
I received the folowing Bio/Obit from the funeral director today. He
conveyed the appreciation of the family for transmitting this and the
notes that have been received so far.
Michael Lewis lewi...@metronet.lib.mi.us
Radio/TV Dial Pages http://131.188.190.131/~mikel/radio.html
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BYRON MAC GREGOR.. VOICE OF "THE AMERICANS"
.NEWSMAN ..ANCHORMAN .....DEAD
FOLLOWING A BRIEF AND SUDDEN ILLNESS.
46-year old MAC GREGOR died today, January 3, 1995, at a
Detroit hospital from complications of pneumonia following a brief and
sudden illness.
You knew him as the booming voice of "THE AMERICANS"....
The Canadian born MAC GREGOR recharged the country with a
spirit of patriotism in the smash hit narrative recording "THE
AMERICANS" which twice topped the charts in the 1970's and in
the 1990's (knocking the likes of Barbra Streisand, Madonna &
Whitney Houston out of the #1 position.).. Recorded with the
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, it sold more than 3 and 1/2
MILLION COPIES and was called "the greatest flag waving
success since Kate Smith."
MAC GREGOR unselfishly donated the more than $100-thousand
dollar proceeds to the American Red Cross after its first release
in the 1970's and again following its second major release
during Desert Storm and the Gulf War in 1991.
"THE AMERICANS" earned MacGregor international recognition
and an "ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS" nomination.
Presidents Reagan and Carter were among those heads of state
who commended MacGregor for "his contributions to the nation"..
..Carter saying "THE AMERICANS extols the good things about the
United States that have been overlooked by the rest of the
world."
In its highest commendation, the American Red Cross stated
"Byron MacGregor..our Canadian good neighbor ..inspired citizens
on both sides of the border with his narrative and brought
support to the Red Cross in our time of need."
The sounds of "THE AMERICANS" continue to be heard over
stations across the country and in Canada particularly on the
Fourth of July and Veteran's Day, etc.
Canadian, MAC GREGOR became a broadcasting legend long
before "THE AMERICANS" with his unique style, "golden tones",
and distinctive brand of journalism.
He became the youngest News Director of a major market station
when he took the helm of a 27 person news dept. at "THE BIG 8"
CKLW AM-FM radio (Detroit/Windsor)..the Canadian 50,000 watt
super station reaching 28 states dayside and 48 states niteside.
As NEWS DIRECTOR & MORNING ANCHOR, he and his news team
created a new wave of tough..gritty..investigative journalism
on the air waves coast to coast from 1967 to 1977.
For the next 13 years,
MacGregor anchored the morning and afternoon prime time
newscasts for WWJ NEWSRADIO 950 AM/FM CBS/DETROIT for
Detroit's 24 hour news station while at the same time anchoring
the prime time evening newscast for WKBD-TV 50/DETROIT.
And most recently MacGregor was the NEWS DIRECTOR and
MORNING ANCHOR for GROUP W RADIO/WLLZ-FM (WHEELS
RADIO) /DETROIT and Greater Media's WCSX-FM RADIO/DETROIT.
MacGregor was the winner of numerous prestigious journalism
awards nationally and locally ...The RTNDA/RADIO TELEVISION
NEWS DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION twice honored his spot news
reports and his CKLW station newscasts with its highest award.
the ASSOCIATED PRESS awarded him its top honor for the 'BEST
REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEWSCAST" in 1985 while at WWJ.
The DETROIT NEWS dubbed him 'BEST NEWSCASTER IN DETROIT'
in 1989 while at WWJ Radio...saying "sometimes it's hard to put
his bombastic '20/20 News' days at CKLW out of your mind and
concentrate on his skills alone, but Byron stands as the Voice of
Authority in the city's finest collection of on-air news voices."
and the MICHIGAN PRESS AWARD cited his outstanding
achievement for his documentary on the Detroit/Toronto street
crime.
MOST RECENTLY...ON DECEMBER 23,1994..
the BOYS 7 GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN honored
MacGregor with its "BENEFACTOR'S AWARD" for his support and
effort in helping to raise nearly two-million dollars over the
past 15 years.
MacGregor was the first Canadian to receive the AMERICAN
LEGION'S prestigious "NATIONAL AMERICANISM AWARD"
for "his unique contribution to the American way of life."
And the AMERICAN RED CROSS honored him with its highest
honor..the "NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD"
MacGregor was also selected by the U.S. government to share the
podium with President Ronald Reagan and act as master of
ceremonies as the President conducted the nation's largest
naturalization ceremony in 1984 in Detroit.
MAC GREGOR had just recently become a U.S. citizen himself...one
year earlier in July of 1983.
But friends say MAC GREGOR'S considered his most important
"NORTH AMERICAN ALLIANCE" to be his marriage to American
TV-Radio Broadcaster, Jo-Jo Shutty.
Byron interviewed Jo-Jo and hired her at CKLW as DETROIT'S
AND THE NATION'S FIRST FEMALE HELICOPTER TRAFFIC
REPORTER...
Soon after...his romance with the former "America's Miss
Teenage Detroit" & "World's Baton Twirling Champ" filled the air
waves as the "BIG 8" radio jocks leaked word of their love story.
Their wedding at Marygrove's Sacred Heart Chapel became one
of social events of the year.
After joining forces, Byron and Jo-Jo became well known for
giving back to the DETROIT METRO AREA through a wide range of
community and charitable activities.
MAC GREGOR served on the BOARD OF DIRECTORS for the BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION,
SALVATION ARMY, BOYS 7 GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN
MICHIGAN, REDFORD SUBURBAN LEAGUE CHARITIES, and
OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION.
HONORARY CHAIRMAN AND SUPPORTER of LEUKEMIA RESEARCH
LIFE/CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL for more than 12 years, a speaker
for the UNITED FOUNDATION SPEAKERS BUREAU, and a member
of the AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION STROKE COMMITTEE.
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Born in Calgary, Alberta...Honors grad of Western Canada High
School, University of Calgary, Wayne State University (Broadcast
Law)
BROADCASTING TRADITION:
"Broadcasting is in the blood" Byron once said. He followed in
the tradition of his dad, the late Clarence "Cy" Mack, a radio
personality and talk show host with CFAC in Calgary for 22
years. While still high school college Byron began his
broadcasting career at
CJGX/Yorktown,Saskatchewan..CKRC/Winnipeg,
Manitoba..CFAC/Calgary, Alberta.
Byron's younger brother, Hudson Mack, a TV anchorman for
CHEK-TV in Victoria, British Columbia talks of then following in
his big brother's footsteps writing in a recent letter
"I remember watching you in awe...I'll never forget my visits to
Windsor..going in for the morning shift at the "BIG 8"..what
formative years for me..what heady stuff to watch you."
Jo-Jo's sister, Sharon Wright, a TV reporter with WMAQ-
TV/NBC/Chicago says
"Byron made his mark not only as one of the most respected
broadcasters in the industry, but will be remembered for his
decency and personal kindness to so many ...be they friends or
strangers"
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Growing up in Canada, Byron pursued a love of football, hockey
and flying small aircraft...but once he hooked up with Jo-Jo..he
and his father-in-law Joe Shutty took to the links during the off
season from "their" Michigan State Spartans football team.
Bagpipes, tap dancing, art collecting and reading for the blind
took up the remainder of his "spare time".
MAC GREGOR was also a board member of Rotary Club of Detroit,
Adcraft Club of Detroit, Detroit Press Club, St. Andrew's Society,
and Radio Television News Directors Association.
MAC GREGOR is survived by his wife, Jo-Jo Shutty-MacGregor, his
mother, Murdena Mack of Calgary, Alberta, his sister, Leilani
(Jim) Harvie of Calgary, Alberta, his brother, Hudson (Pat) Mack
of Victoria, British Columbia, his niece Rachel, his nephew,
Hamilton, his aunts, Madeline MacGregor and Betty MacGregor,
his mother in law, Stormie Shutty, his sister-in-law, Sharon
(Shutty) Wright. Pre-deceased by his brother, Darrel Mack, his
uncles, Byron and Dr. John MacGregor, and his father-in-law,
Joseph Shutty.
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