Jeff McGrath

Jeff McGrath was an influential Chicago television executive for more than 30 years. He was best known for bringing Oprah Winfrey to Chicago in 1983, and bringing her to the attention of the general manager of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7.

McGrath went on to serve as the general manager of WYCC-Channel 20, the City Colleges of Chicago public television station, and as president and chairman of the board of Silver King Communications, as well as 13 other home-shopping stations.

He was also the president and partner of Center City Studios, a broadcast and advertising production facility in Chicago.

McGrath got his start at ABC in 1967 as a producer and promotion writer, later moving up to community affairs director, then specials producer, executive producer and assistant program director, before becoming program director in 1976.

He died December 18, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. He was 73.