The Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognizes outstanding contributions to public television by presenting the Ralph Lowell medal, public television's most prestigious award. Honorees have been chosen for their extraordinary efforts in public broadcasting, leadership at the national level, and education and professional development.
The Ralph Lowell Award, named after the late Boston philanthropist and banker, was created by the Lowell family in 1970 to commemorate the pioneer public broadcaster's 80th birthday. Presented by CPB on behalf of the Lowell family, the Ralph Lowell Award honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to public television.
Ralph Lowell was a founder of the WGBH Educational Foundation, licensee of WGBH-TV, Boston, serving as its first president from 1951 until he became chairman in the mid-1970s. He was instrumental in the formation of the Carnegie Commission on Educational Television, which led to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and the establishment of CPB. Lowell was chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Educational Television and Radio Center during its formative years.
2011
Rebecca Eaton
Executive producer of Masterpiece
» Press release
2010
Earl Blumenauer
Congressman from Oregon
» Press release
2009
David Fanning
Executive Producer and Founder of FRONTLINE
» Press release
2008
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research
» Press release
2007
Henry Becton, Jr.
Former President and General Manager of WGBH, Boston
» Press release
2006
Mary G.F. Bitterman
Veteran public television executive and chair of the PBS Board of Directors
» Press release
2005
Frederick L. DeMarco
Executive Vice President, CPB
» Press release
2004
Maynard Orme
President & CEO, Oregon Public Broadcasting
2002
Ted Stevens
U.S. Senator, Alaska
» Press release
2001
Peter S. McGhee
Vice president for national programming, WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston
» Press release
2000
David J. Brugger
Past president and chief executive officer of the Association of America's Public Television Stations (APTS)
» Press release
1999
Thad Cochran
U.S. Senator, Mississippi
Edward M. Kennedy
U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
» Press release
1998
Julia Child
Host of The French Chef and other public TV series
» Press release
1997
Jac Venza
Director of Cultural and Arts Programs, WNET/New York, and executive producer, Great Performances
1996
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell
Former president of WETA/Washington, D.C. and vice president for community affairs
» Press release
1995
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker
1994
Bruce Christensen
Former PBS president
1993
Henry Hampton
President, Blackside, Inc.
1992
Chalmers H. Marquis
Former public television representative to Congress
1991
Alistair Cooke
Host and narrator, Masterpiece Theatre, WGBH
1990
Ward B. Chamberlin, Jr.
Former president and chief executive officer, WETA/FM-TV, Washington, DC
1989
Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer
Co-anchors, The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
1988
Ernest F. Hollings
U.S. Senator, South Carolina
1987
Sharon Percy Rockefeller
Former CPB board chair
1986
Barry M. Goldwater
Former U.S. Senator, Arizona
1985
David O. Ives
Vice chairman of the board of trustees and former president of WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston
1984
Lawrence K. Grossman
Former PBS president
1983
Walter H. Annenberg
Founder, The Annenberg/CPB Project
1982
Newton N. Minow
Former PBS Board chairman
1981
Fred W. Friendly
Former communications adviser, Ford Foundation
1980
Warren G. Magnuson
Former U.S. Senator, Washington
1979
James A. Fellows
Former president, National Association of Educational Broadcasters
1978
Ralph Rogers
Former PBS Board chairman
1977
John O. Pastore
Former U.S. Senator, Rhode Island
1976
James R. Killian, Jr.
Former CPB Board Chairman
1975
Fred Rogers
Creator and host, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
1974
Bill Moyers
Journalist and producer
1973
Hartford N. Gunn, Jr.
First PBS president
1972
Jonathan Rice
Former director of programming, KQED-TV
1971
Joan Ganz Cooney
Founder and president, Children's Television Workshop
