My father had to explain Johnnie Babcock’s departure, so shortly after Johnnie resigned on December 8, 1981, he scheduled a number of conference calls with his various managers. He started the telephone conference by saying that he had, or was calling, all members of our three management groups to make an important announcement and that he wanted them to hear it at the same time, and directly from Johnnie Babcock. He said “Johnnie, you are on first.”
Babcock’s statement said: “I am going into my nineteenth year with Roy Park on a different basis than that full-time position I have filled as the operating head for Broadcasting. It may be a different basis, but I want you all to know that I shall still be on the scene. Roy and I have talked about this for a good long time, and we arrived at a balance that will allow me to pursue some personal projects that have been gathering dust, and at the same time continue to be helpful to Roy—and to all of you.
“My plan is to make myself available for up to one-third of my time, and on a different basis, I’ll be working with Roy, Jr. on outdoor and with Bill Fowler on radio. Of course, I’ll remain available as needs arise for other problems that Roy might call me in on, and we have agreed on a retainer arrangement so that will be possible.
“One thing for sure, I am shifting to a part-time basis when the company is probably as strong at the top as it ever has been. We’ve got Bill Fowler and George Lilly in Broadcasting operations, and Roy, Jr. in outdoor. Tom Thomas, Randy Stair and Dave Feldman and the combined financial control staff are now providing us with the support needed in the financial area.
“Those of you who run back with me a few years know that I have a lot of farm and scenic land in the Ithaca area. I want to work on managing and developing some of that. I may also accept some consultancy work in Broadcasting, as long as it is with folks who are not competing with Park stations in our markets. I’ll be working at Park a day or two a week as Roy and I plan our time and needs, and soon after the first of the year, I’ll set up my permanent office right in my home here in town.”
Following Babcock’s statement, my father said: “As a person who has had more than one career in his lifetime, I could not honestly disagree with Johnnie’s decision. I want to reiterate that this was not a sudden development, and as Johnnie has indicated, it has been carefully thought out and planned for by the two of us. Over the years, Johnnie and I have worked as a team, with my job being to find good stations, provide the money or credit to buy them—and for Johnnie to run them once they became part of our group. We are fortunate that Johnnie will be working with us on a continuing basis with online responsibility for radio and outdoor and to consult with George and me on television.
“Johnnie, we enter into this new relationship at your suggestion—and it should be a fulfilling arrangement for you, for me, and for all of us.”
But Johnnie wanted to give his side of the story, so a little over a year later, in January 1983, he issued to key Park personnel a letter that read: My participation in Park management during 1982 did not work out the way it was described to the managers December 8, 1981. I was not called for any consulting for television, and the authority that is a necessary part of line responsibility for radio and outdoor was removed.
When it was made clear that I would not be asked to be part of the January meetings in Raleigh this month, I opted not to perform consulting work for Park in 1983.
My 19th year with the Park Companies was rewarding in two respects: I enjoyed helping Roy, Jr. restore respectability to the outdoor division. He won back many key customers.
During a year that was grim for radio generally, it was pure fun to work with Bill Fowler as he restored profit growth to radio, including a spectacular fourth quarter.
Roy Park is building a newspaper business that may one day rival broadcasting in volume, if not in profitability. You are part of a communications group that continues to grow at an impressive rate. Probably no individual can match Mr. Park’s record of achievement. I shall continue to cheer him on from the sidelines just as I did directly as a member of his line management team.
I intend to stay extremely active in broadcasting, and hopefully my future endeavors may make it possible for our paths to cross. I surely hope so, for my association with you is one treasure no one can take away. I could not leave the active ranks of the Park Companies without thanking you for your personal contribution to whatever track record I leave behind.
Good luck to you and all the Park Companies for 1983.
He signed it, “Warm Regards, John Babcock.”