Ralph Lowell Award
Outstanding Contributions to Public Television
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 Com-mission 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.