Year Born: 1921
Year Died: 1995
Year of Induction: 1989
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
MacLennan, Roderick M. “Rory” (1921-1995)
Rory MacLennan, on retirement from the RCAF as Squadron Leader following WWII, had completed a North Atlantic Tour of Operations attached to 116 Flying Boat Squadron based in Dartmouth, NS and Botwood, Nfld, and a further two years in Britain in RAF Fighter Command. Coincidentally, Jack Blick had applied for and received a licence to establish a new radio station in Winnipeg (CJOB). Blick’s policy was to hire only ex-servicemen (being one himself). Rory was one of the first to join the staff in 1946 in the capacity of Promotion Manager.
In 1955 Blick appointed him as Sales Manager. When Western Broadcasting purchased CJOB from Blick, Rory was appointed Manager, and in 1970 was named President of Radio OB Ltd. During his tenure with CJOB, MacLennan played a leading role in the broadcasting industry – as President of the Western Association of Broadcasters, a Director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and, among others, the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement.
Rory was firmly committed to serving his community and this he did in many ways. Both the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg recognized his extensive public service.
Following his retirement from CJOB, Rory MacLennan, in 1989, was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
Rory MacLennan died on June 16th 1995.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – April, 1996