Year Born:
1925
Year Died:
2006
Year of Induction:
1998
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Kope, Orville (1925-2006)
Medicine Hat-born Orv Kope, unlike traditional peripatetic broadcasters, spent his entire career in his home city and with the same broadcasting organization.
Signing on as Morning Man, Orv moved progressively to Production Manager, Sales Representative, Sales Manager-Radio, Sales Manager-TV and General Sales Manager for Radio and TV.
In 1961, Kope was appointed Manager of both CHAT Radio & TV until 1983 when he attained the position of Vice-President and General Manager of CHAT Radio & TV, and a Director of Monarch Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
In 1983, he became Senior Vice-President of the Monarch Group. In December 1985, after 40 years in broadcasting, Orv retired.
In 1982, Kope was the Founding Chair of the Alberta Motion Picture Development Corporation. During his regime 25 theatrical-television motion pictures were produced, many of which enjoyed worldwide distribution.
Active in various community activities, Orv also served as a Director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and was a member of the executive committee for four terms. He is a Past President of the Broadcasters Association of Alberta and was Director of the Western Association of Broadcasters for three terms He reached membership in the CAB’s Half-Century Club In 1996.
In 1988, Orv Kope was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
Orville Kope died in Medicine Hat on May 4th 2006.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – March, 1996