Frederick Vorhees Congdon, Jr.

Frederick Vorhees Congdon Jr., age 86, died Tuesday April 13, 2021 at his residence from cancer. He was born in Atlanta, August 1, 1934 to F. V. Congdon Sr. and Rachel Pruett Congdon. Fred is survived by his wife, Rebecca Lewis Congdon of 42 years. He is also survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Suanne Strickland (Kevin) of Cleveland, Georgia and his two sons Christopher Martin Congdon (Stacy) of Toccoa, Georgia, and Jon Harvey Congdon (Lesley) of Gainesville, Georgia from his marriage of 20 years with the late Katherine Brown Bray. Also surviving are his ten grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. 

He attended E. Rivers Elementary and North Fulton High School where he was on the Cross-Country team and played percussion in the Marching Band, Concert Band, and Orchestra. One of Fred’s stories was that he wanted to be on the football team and on the first day of practice, they had head-on tackling. The next day Fred tried out for the band.

He attended the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia and The University of Georgia in Athens where he majored in Broadcast Journalism. He was in the Georgia Air National Guard for seven years playing percussion in the 530th Air Force Band. He also played drums in various dance orchestras beginning his senior year at North Fulton and continuing through college and beyond. 

Fred joined WXIA-TV Channel 11 in 1957 and retired after 42 years in 1999. During his early career, TV was live, so commercials and shows had to be “set-up” throughout the day. He was the Property Supervisor over the “Prop Boys” and he also operated two hand puppets on weekday mornings on the “Skipper Ray” children’s show: “Jake the Snake” and “Zeke the Beak”. On Saturdays during the summer, he hosted “Dance Party”, an American Bandstand type program. 

During these years he was Assistant Promotion Manager, Operational Engineer, Film Editor, Director, and Master Control Operator. This was just in his first 21 years.

The second 21 years he was Senior Postproduction Editor producing Commercials, Promotions and Public Service Announcements, Special News Programs, and In-Flight Entertainment for United Airlines. He also produced the very first Home Depot Commercial.

In 1976 the Atlanta Advertising Council awarded Fred the Gold Phoenix Award for the best commercial. He went on to win the VPA National Monitor Award and was a finalist for Best Editor of a National Television Commercial in 1984 and 1985. In 1990 he won Best Editor on a News Special at The Best of Gannett awards. At The Georgia Associated Press Broadcasting Awards he won Best Editor of News Special Programming in 1999. Over his years, Fred was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards and won 10. 

After retirement in 2000, Fred and Becky moved to Gainesville to be close to their three youngest grandchildren Kaitley, Ellie, and Brinson and enjoyed watching them in their school and sport activities. Fred enjoyed running audio and TV camera at Gainesville First United Methodist Church where he was a member and also a member of the Comet Sunday School Class, Tuesday Lunch Club, and Gadabouts where he enjoyed calling Bingo once a month. He also liked to play “Mexican Train” dominoes at the church.

There will be a visitation for family and friends on Friday, April 23, 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Park North-Riverside, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. A celebration of Fred’s life will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church at Lakeside, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville. The family will receive friends following the service at the top of the hill. In honor of Fred, donations may be made to the Comet Sunday School Class or Gadabouts of GFUMC.