Bahakel was born to a poor Lebanese family in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1919. He helped pay his way through University of Alabama School of Law by doing sports play-by-play and other announcing duties at Tuscaloosa's WJRD radio, a sideline that made him question his goals to become a lawyer. He practiced law for six months, but the lure of the microphone was too strong. He and a friend put up $12,500 each and launched a radio station in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Within a year, Bahakel bought out his partner and found that one of the best investments in business was an hour spent talking to customers over a cup of coffee. He went on to build radio stations from scratch in Greenwood, Mississippi, Kingsport, Tennessee, and Roanoke, Virginia. One of his larger-market radio purchases was WDOD-FM, Chattanooga and its now-defunct counterpart, WDOD, and later WDEF and WDEF-FM, also Chattanooga, all still owned by Bahakel Communications. As the era of television dawned in the 1950s, Bahakel tried his hand in this new fad as well, and founded WABG-TV in Greenwood, the Mississippi Delta's first TV station, in 1959. Bahakel later acquired stations in Charlotte, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina (WCCA-TV), and Montgomery, Alabama.
Bahakel was instrumental in bringing the Charlotte HornetsNational Basketball Association franchise to Charlotte in 1987. He was a primary investor in the team and was the guarantor of the $32 million loan for the franchise fee to bring the team to Charlotte.
Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 22nd district 1973–1977 Served alongside: Haden Edward Knox, Herman Aubrey Moore, Michael P. Mullins, Frederick Douglas Alexander, James Doyle McDuffie
Succeeded by
William Craig Lawing Carolyn Williamson Mathis
January 01, 1970
bahakel, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2022, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Cy Bahakel news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Cy Nesbe Bahakel April 12 1919 April 20 2006 was an American politician He was a North Carolina state senator and a media magnate 1 2 He was a member of the Democratic Party His son in law is former US Representative Robert Pittenger R NC Cy BahakelMember of the North Carolina State SenateIn office 1972 1976Personal detailsBorn 1919 04 12 April 12 1919Birmingham Alabama U S DiedApril 20 2006 2006 04 20 aged 87 Charlotte North Carolina U S Political partyDemocraticAlma materUniversity of Alabama AB LLB Bahakel was born to a poor Lebanese family in Birmingham Alabama on April 12 1919 He helped pay his way through University of Alabama School of Law by doing sports play by play and other announcing duties at Tuscaloosa s WJRD radio a sideline that made him question his goals to become a lawyer He practiced law for six months but the lure of the microphone was too strong He and a friend put up 12 500 each and launched a radio station in Kosciusko Mississippi Within a year Bahakel bought out his partner and found that one of the best investments in business was an hour spent talking to customers over a cup of coffee He went on to build radio stations from scratch in Greenwood Mississippi Kingsport Tennessee and Roanoke Virginia One of his larger market radio purchases was WDOD FM Chattanooga and its now defunct counterpart WDOD and later WDEF and WDEF FM also Chattanooga all still owned by Bahakel Communications As the era of television dawned in the 1950s Bahakel tried his hand in this new fad as well and founded WABG TV in Greenwood the Mississippi Delta s first TV station in 1959 Bahakel later acquired stations in Charlotte North Carolina Columbia South Carolina WCCA TV and Montgomery Alabama Bahakel was instrumental in bringing the Charlotte Hornets National Basketball Association franchise to Charlotte in 1987 He was a primary investor in the team and was the guarantor of the 32 million loan for the franchise fee to bring the team to Charlotte Bahakel ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the U S House of Representatives in 1970 losing to incumbent Republican Charles R Jonas 1 Bahakel served in the North Carolina Senate from 1972 until 1976 Bahakel died at his home in Charlotte on April 20 2006 at the age of 87 He is survived by his wife six children and five grandchildren References edit North Carolina manual serial 1916 North Carolina manual serial 1916 External links editChattanoogan North Carolina Senate Preceded byHarry Stroman BagnalHamilton C Horton Jr Member of the North Carolina Senatefrom the 22nd district1973 1977 Served alongside Haden Edward Knox Herman Aubrey Moore Michael P Mullins Frederick Douglas Alexander James Doyle McDuffie Succeeded byWilliam Craig LawingCarolyn Williamson Mathis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cy Bahakel amp oldid 1206763389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
