Delano Lewis, the first Black President of NPR and former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, has died.
Lewis served as the President of the outlet from 1993 until 1998. He was the Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, serving under President Bill Clinton, from 1999 to 2001.
During his tenure as the public broadcaster’s President, Lewis fought for federal funds to continue supporting public broadcasting. He also, unsuccessfully, angled to merge National Public Radio with Public Radio International.
Prior to joining the organization, Lewis served as the CEO of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company. He was a graduate of Washburn University’s School of Law in 1963, and also held roles at the Justice Departement and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“A loyal NPR listener and supporter of public radio, he joked about the lengthy process to become head of NPR saying: ‘I never worked so hard for a pay cut in my life’,” current CEO John Lansing said in a statement announcing Lewis’s death. “The NPR and public radio family join his family and friends, who will miss him dearly.”
Delano Lewis was 84.
