<p>Local media mogul Charles McClure has died of natural causes.</p><p>McClure, who was 81, died Sunday at St. Francis Hospital. He was the former owner of WRCG-AM and owned WCGT, Channel 16, both in Columbus, Ga.</p><p>After earning his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, McClure owned WRFC-AM and helped found the Athens Daily News during his 50-year career.</p><p>He came to Columbus in 1953 and established McClure Broadcasting Co. and Cherokee Broadcasting Co. Among the radio and television stations he operated through those companies were WCHK-AM in Canton, Ga., and WNSY-FM in Ellijay, Ga.</p><p>Through those networks, McClure became well-known for his conservative "Emphasis" commentaries. McClure's widow, Dorothy, said he was very proud of his work on these commentaries.</p><p>"When he got too sick to do them himself, he dictated it right out of his head," she said. "I thought it was genius, but then I'm prejudiced of course."</p><p>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's degree in journalism.</p><p>"He felt the community was made of conservative and liberal ideas and he contributed his part conservatively," Dorothy McClure said.</p><p>McClure also took pride in his family and his three children, his widow said.</p><p>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.</p><p>McClure'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.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286671c)</p>
