Jim Major, former General Manager of WFTS-TV ABC 28, died November 23, 2021. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 57 years, and two sons; Mark and Matt, both of Tampa, sisters; Mary Miller of Silver Spring, MD and Peggy Major of Milwaukee, WI, and a brother Jack of Sanford NC.
Major was born September 30, 1934 in Oshkosh, WI, and raised in Milwaukee, WI. He attended St. Monica's, Marquette High, and Marquette University from where he graduated in 1956 with a degree in Radio-Television. After a short time as a disc jockey, he served two years in the US Army working in Army Television in the Signal Corp. He began his professional career at WITI-TV in Milwaukee, starting as a stagehand, then a Director, Producer, News Anchor, Production Manager, and Program Director. He also held Program positions at WJBK-TV in Detroit, KGO-TV in San Francisco, and Petry Television in New York. He joined WFTS-TV in 1986 and ran the station, first as an Independent, then FOX, and ABC, for 15 years.
He served on a number of industry and non-profit Boards of Directors, including two national, the National Association of Television Program Executives from 1973 to 1979, where he also served as Chairman in 1979. He was on the national board of the Muscular Dystrophy Association from 2000 to 2006 and also served MDA as a Vice-President/Member of the Corporation from 1983 to 1989.
Locally he has been on the Outback Bowl board for many years and served as Chairman in 1998. He's been on the board for the Hillsborough Education Foundation since 1998 and served as Chairman from 2003 to 2005. Earlier he served on the board of the Florida Orchestra, Goodwill Industries- Suncoast, and the Advisory Council of the Department of Mass Communications at USF. In 1967, he was named Alumnus of the Year- Broadcasting, from the Marquette University School of Speech.
He and his wife, Barbara, have also been involved in many local charity fundraisers, including the MDA Hearts of Fire, the Boys and Girls Club Steak Dinner, The cattle Barons Ball, and Spine Foundation.
In lieu of flowers, please give to any of the above charities that Jim was involved in, Incarnation Catholic Church, or St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
A visitation will be held on Saturday December 11, 2021 at 1:30pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home Oldsmar West Hillsborough. A memorial service will begin at 2:00pm, officiated by Father Michael of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.
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