Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories

Omaha Press Club to salute media mogul Cathy Hughes

©by Leo Adam Biga

Nebraskans are about to get an education about one of their own they should know more about and embrace as one of the state’s greatest ever exports but very few outside of Omaha’s African-American community do. This exemplary product is Omaha native Cathy Hughes, founder and owner of two major media networks, Radio One and TV One, that she grew into African-American market empires. Hers is an entrepreneurial success story unlike few others and one that transcends color and gender. Think Oprah Winfrey but only more niche and you have an idea of just how big a deal she is and just what a footprint she has in a segment of the national media marketplace. Her personal net worth is estimated at half a billion dollars. Get the picture? She’s about to come on your radar in a big way, perhaps for the first time, because of a series of events feting and featuring her in her hometown the week of May 14-20.

If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of her before or why there haven’t been things named after her before, it may say something about how this predominantly white state has not exactly gone out of its way to recognize her or any other woman of color. As a whole, Omaha’s been guilty of the same, The festivities being planned around her are largely the effort of the African-American community here, though a broad spectrum of city officials and movers and shakers will be present for the street renaming ceremony and the Omaha Press Club Face on the Barroom Floor roast in her honor (see about the Press Club event by clicking below). Her omission, until now, as a generally known and acknowledged Nebraska Great is all the more vexing because she got her media start in Omaha, counted as her mentor Omaha Star publisher Mildred Brown and has retained very close ties to the city and the black community. She has also been very generous with her time with this reporter and others from here and with other members of the community here. I will be doing a whole new round of writing about Cathy and her business and life journey in the coming months.

Oh, by the way, her mother Helen Jones Woods is a great story in herself as a member of the famed International Sweethearts of Rhythm during the big band swing era.

For those of you playing catch-up when it comes to Cathy Hughes, here are links to some stories I have done about her or that have extensively quoted her:

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/29/radio-one-queen-…-keeping-it-real

https://leoadambiga.com/2013/04/11/the-omaha-star-c…ack-woman-legacy

https://leoadambiga.com/2017/08/11/native-omaha-day…ng-like-no-other

https://leoadambiga.com/2015/12/04/news-of-omaha-st…ic-papers-future/

https://leoadambiga.com/2011/07/04/native-omahans-t…n-their-hometown

Here’s a link to my story about Cathy’s mother, Helen Jones Woods, and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm:

https://leoadambiga.com/2010/04/29/17/

The Omaha Press Club Celebrates Its 157th Face on the Barroom Floor    Cathy Hughes Friday, May 18, 2018 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dinner Hors d’oeuvres Potato Leek Smoked Salmon with Goat Cheese and Bacon Parmesan Onion Canapé Salad OPC’s Signature Thunderbird Salad Entrée OPC Tenderloin Filet Maytag Bleu and Béarnaise Gouda & Roasted Twice-Baked Potato Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Dessert OPC’s Signature Bavarian Chocolate Mousse Gateau Riche 7:30 p.m. The Roast featuring: Roasters Johnny Rodgers, 1972 Heisman Trophy winner, founder/CEO, Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation and Face on the Barroom Floor (No. 102, July 2005) — emcee Theresa Glass Union, AT&T, Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (retired) Elmer J. Crumbley, educational consultant/Minnesota Humanities Center, educator, Omaha Public Schools, former principal, Skinner Magnet School (retired) Dr. Blandina Rose Willis, educator/psychologist, president, Humanistic Solutions, LLC Al Goodwin, economic development director, Omaha Economic Development Corp. (retired) Face Reveal Artist Jim Horan Dinner: $50 for Omaha Press Club members; $60 for nonmembers To RSVP for dinner: Call the Omaha Press Club at 402-345-8008, Email jeaniec@opc.omhcoxmail.com or RSVP Online (If you have special dietary needs, please notify the Omaha Press Club when you make your reservation.)

Free parking for OPC members in the Central City Garage from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.;