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Cy Bahakel | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNorth Carolina State Senate | |
| In office 1972–1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1919-04-12)April 12, 1919 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 2006(2006-04-20) (aged 87) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama (AB,LLB) |
Cy Nesbe Bahakel (April 12, 1919 – April 20, 2006) was an Americanpolitician. He was aNorth Carolina statesenator and a media magnate.[1][2] He was a member of theDemocratic Party. His son-in-law is former US RepresentativeRobert Pittenger (R-NC).
Bahakel was born to a poorLebanese family inBirmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1919. He helped pay his way throughUniversity of Alabama School of Law by doing sports play-by-play and other announcing duties atTuscaloosa'sWJRD radio, a sideline that made him question his goals to become a lawyer. He practiced law for six months, but the lure of the microphone was too strong. He and a friend put up $12,500 each and launchedWKOZ, a radio station inKosciusko, Mississippi. Within a year, Bahakel bought out his partner and found that one of the best investments in business was an hour spent talking to customers over a cup of coffee. He went on to build radio stations from scratch inGreenwood, Mississippi,Kingsport, Tennessee, andRoanoke, Virginia. One of his larger-market radio purchases wasWDOD-FM, Chattanooga and its now-defunct counterpart, WDOD, and laterWDEF andWDEF-FM, also Chattanooga, all still owned by Bahakel Communications. As the era oftelevision dawned in the 1950s, Bahakel tried his hand in this new fad as well, and founded WABG-TV inGreenwood, theMississippi Delta's first TV station, in 1959. Bahakel later acquired stations inCharlotte, North Carolina,Columbia, South Carolina (WCCA-TV), andMontgomery, Alabama.
Bahakel was instrumental in bringing theCharlotte HornetsNational Basketball Association franchise to Charlotte in 1987. He was a primary investor in the team and was the guarantor of the $32 million loan for the franchise fee to bring the team to Charlotte.
Bahakel ran unsuccessfully as aDemocrat for theU.S. House of Representatives in 1970, losing to incumbentRepublicanCharles R. Jonas.[1]Bahakel served in theNorth Carolina Senate from 1972 until 1976.
Bahakel died at his home inCharlotte on April 20, 2006, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, six children, and five grandchildren.
| North Carolina Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Harry Stroman Bagnal Hamilton C. Horton Jr. | Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the22nd district 1973–1977 Served alongside:Haden Edward Knox, Herman Aubrey Moore, Michael P. Mullins, Frederick Douglas Alexander, James Doyle McDuffie | Succeeded by William Craig Lawing Carolyn Williamson Mathis |