TVSquad

Frank Stanton was one of those behind-the-scenes guys whose name TV fans probably don't know. But he's also one of the men who shaped broadcast television into how we see it today. He was president of CBS from 1946 to 1973, and along with network chairman William S. Paley, helped bring the network from the radio era to the TV era. He passed away on Sunday night at the age of 98.

The New York Times has a pretty extensive obituary for Stanton, including information on his complementary but strained relationship with Paley, his role within CBS, and his problems with Edward R. Murrow. He also helped oversee the design of the network's famous Eye logo, spearheaded the network's move into its Black Rock headquarters in New York, and how he helped steer the news division with innovations such as a 30-minute evening newscast. The Times obit talks about all of Stanton's impressive accomplishments, so if you want a condensed history of CBS, give it a read.