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Nathan Safir
Nathan Safir
Born	1913 or 1914; Hartford, Connecticut or New Haven, Connecticut, US
Died	September 7, 1996; San Antonio, Texas, US
Occupation	Radio executive

Nathan Safir (1913 or July 14, 1914^[3] – September 7, 1996) was an American radio executive and broadcaster who was active in the development of Spanish-language radio in the United States after the Second World War.

Early life

Safir was born to Russian parents in Connecticut, but was raised in Monterrey, Mexico, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism.^[1] He did not speak English at the age of 12 and was sent to be educated at the Texas Military Institute.^[2] Safir's first job after graduation was with the Laredo Times newspaper; he then became the assistant news editor for station WOAI in San Antonio^[4] before moving to competing station KABC.^[5] He started what was said to be the city's first Spanish-language radio program at station KTSA in 1940.^[5]^[2]

Later life

After serving in the infantry in World War II (during which time he hosted Spanish-language shows for Armed Forces Radio in London^[2]), Safir became a pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasting in San Antonio, helping to develop KCOR (1350 AM), an all-Spanish radio station in San Antonio started in 1946 by Raúl Cortez.^[2] Station development was slow: by 1954, there were just ten Spanish-language radio stations in the country,^[6] and people sometimes thought the station broadcast directly from Mexico.^[1] Safir would also serve three years as general manager of KCOR's television expansion, KCOR-TV (later KWEX-TV), as well as 44 years as general manager of the radio station, retiring in 1990.^[1] During his time at the station, he was said to oversee "the whole ball of wax", from programming to community involvement.^[2]

In his later career, Safir was recognized as one of the leading lights of Spanish-language radio, being elected president of the Spanish Radio Broadcasters of America and the Texas Association of Broadcasters.^[2] In 1984, Tichenor Media, which owned KCOR and other Spanish-language media properties, created a Tichenor Spanish Media Group and named Safir its president, with CEO McHenry Tichenor calling him "the premier Spanish broadcaster in the U.S." and "the dean in the field".^[7] He was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters in 1989;^[2] NAB chairman Lowry Mays, founder of San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications, noted that "he has never wavered or doubted the ultimate success of the Spanish format".^[5]

Safir died on September 7, 1996, from complications of diabetes. An obituary in the San Antonio Express-News described him as "a trailblazer in Spanish-language broadcasting in the United States".^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Safir, Spanish-language broadcasting pioneer, dies at 83". San Antonio Express-News. September 9, 1996. p. 8A. (See also the correction run September 10, 1996)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Pace, Eric (September 12, 1996). "Nathan Safir, 83, Spanish-Radio Pioneer, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^ Cano, Jr., Ray (April 30, 2015). "Nathan Safir". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^ "Behind the Mike" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 1, 1938. p. 46. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "NAB Hall of Fame" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 30, 1989. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^ Tiegel, Eliot (July 25, 1988). "Hispanic culture thrives like mesquite in western U.S." (PDF). Television/Radio Age. p. A32. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^ "Safir New President: Tichenor Sets Spanish Media Group" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 14, 1984. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.