Funeral services set for veteran NE Georgia broadcaster

UNDATED - Funeral services are scheduled Tuesday in Clayton for veteran northeast Georgia broadcaster &#34;Apple&#34; Savage, and a Columbus media mogul has also died.<br> <br> His given name was Wiley Lamar Savage, but he was known to the world as &#34;Apple.&#34; <br> <br> A native of Hall County, Savage had worked for WGGA and WLBA in Gainesville. He later moved to Clayton and was the founder of radio station WALH in Mountain City. <br> <br> Apple Savage, who was also a former the Mayor of Clayton, died Saturday at the age of 76.<br> <br> In Columbus, Charles McClure, 81, died Sunday at St. Francis Hospital of natural causes.<br> <br> During his 50-year media career, McClure established McClure Broadcasting Co. and Cherokee Broadcasting Co. and operated a number of radio and television stations around the state through those companies. He also helped found the Athens Daily News.<br> <br> Through his broadcast networks, McClure became known for his conservative ``Emphasis&#39;&#39; commentaries.<br> <br> Last year, the National Association of Broadcasters honored McClure for his work in broadcasting. He was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame at the University of Georgia, where he earned his bachelor&#39;s degree in journalism.<br> <br> McClure&#39;s wife, Dorothy, said he was proud of his ``Emphasis&#39;&#39; commentaries and said he was able to express his views without making enemies.<br> <br> ``He felt the community was made of conservative and liberal ideas and he contributed his part conservatively,&#39;&#39; she said.<br> <br> McClure also took pride in his family and his three children, his widow said.<br> <br> Before working in broadcast, McClure served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He retired as a lieutenant colonel with the Air Force Reserves. He flew 49 combat missions during World War II as a pilot and was awarded the Flying Cross and the U.S. Air Force Air Medal with Cluster.<br> <br> McClure&#39;s funeral will be at St. Luke Methodist Church but a date and time have not been determined, a representative of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary said.<br> <br> (The Associated Press contributed to this story.)