George Raymond Andrick
(May 17, 1923 - April 7, 2017)

George R. Andrick, 93, of Huntington, W.Va., passed away on April 7, 2017 at the Woodlands Health Care in Huntington. He was born May 17, 1923 in Palestine, W.Va., a son of the late Raymond and Nelle Lockhart Andrick. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded by his wife, Winifred Arlene Andrick on November 12, 2016. George was the former General Manager of WSAZ Television 3 in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from Parkersburg High School and attended Ohio University. He joined the staff of WSAZ Radio in 1951 as Account Executive and continued through the years in various capacities including Radio Sales Manager, Radio Station Manager, Local/Regional Television Sales Manager, General Sales Manager, and in 1971 was appointed General Manager of WSAZ Television. In 1986, he became Senior Manager. Following his retirement in 1988, he represented WSAZ and Lee Enterprises as Director of Economic Development to help the Huntington area and the State of West Virginia pursue economic growth. During his 37 years in broadcasting, he was active in various media support organizations. He was President of the Advertising Club of Huntington in 1955 and 1956 and named “Advertising Man of the Year” by The Huntington Advertising Club in 1956. He was awarded the Printers Ink Magazine “Silver Medal” award for outstanding contributions to advertising in 1962. He was President of the Tri-State Sales Executives in 1963 and 1964. He was elected Governor of the Fifth District of the American Advertising Federation in 1964 after serving as Treasurer and continuing through ranks from Third LT. Governor to First LT. Governor. The Fifth District made up of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky is the second largest in the United States. He was President of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association for two terms and awarded “The Mel Burka Distinguished Broadcasters” award in 1982. In 1986, The Advertising Club of Charleston awarded him their “Lifetime Achievement” award for his lifetime contributions to advertising, broadcasting, and community service. He is a lifetime member of The Broadcast Pioneers organization and served as a member of their Foundation Board for several years. During his tenure as General Manager of WSAZ Television, he served two terms as a member of the NBC Affiliates Board of Directors. This was followed with two terms as a member of the NBC Stations General Managers Affiliation Promotion Committee. Community service always had a top priority. For many years he was involved with the United Way fund raising campaigns and was a member of their Board of Directors for two terms. He also was involved in the annual fund raising campaigns for the YMCA several years. As a member of the JAYCEES, when he was WSAZ Radio Station Manager, he initiated along with the JAYCEES, the first West Virginia “Voice of Democracy” contest. He has been deeply involved with the Huntington Museum of Art for many years. He is a Past President and served as a member of The Board of Trustees several years and was appointed lifetime Trustee Emeritus in 1991. He worked on every Open Door fund raising campaign from its inception and was Chairman of the Open Door campaign in 1988 and 1994. In 1987 the Mayor of Huntington named him to chair a committee responsible for bringing back the Huntington a Coal Exhibit which had been created by the Huntington Museum of Art and after local showing at The Museum, it became the principal West Virginia exhibit at the Knoxville World’s Fair. Following fundraising and restoration in conjunction with the Huntington Museum of Art, “The Mining Life in our History and Culture” open to the public in the former post office building in downtown Huntington where it remained until 1991. For several years, he was a member of The Huntington Industrial Corporation Board of Directors whose function was to develop and bring businesses to the Huntington Area. As part of his commitment to assist in the economic development of the area and West Virginia, he was a member of The West Virginia Economic Development Council and The West Virginia Roundtable. In 1988 he was appointed by the Governor of West Virginia as a member of the first Enterprise Zone Authority. He is a Past President, a Paul Harris Fellow, and member of The Rotary Club of Huntington. In 2012 he was proclaimed in Honorary Member and a Charter Member of the Rotary District 7550 Century Rotary Club. He is a Past President and member of the City Club of Huntington, a member of the Noon Club and a member of Huntington Chamber of Commerce and served two terms as a member of the Hospice Board of Directors. Upon retirement from WSAZ Television 3, a $10,000 endowed scholarship was established in his honor by WSA Z and Lee Enterprises Inc., the parent company. Annual income from the fund is used to award a scholarship to A Marshall University student each year in the field of broadcast journalism. He was a member of The Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. He is survived by two sons, Dr. Jett S. Andrick and his wife Lynn of Knoxville, Tenn., and Todd F. Andrick and wife Beth of Cummings, Ga.; four grandchildren, Alyssa Ray Acree (William B. III) of Atlanta, Ga., Leah Arlene Gerken (Adam) of Maryville, Tenn., Nicholas N. Andrick, Rachael Virginia Andrick of Cummings, Ga.; five great-grandchildren, Drew Katherine Gerken, Jack Joseph Gerken, William B. Acree IV, Elizabeth Jett Acree and Julia Rae Acree; Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2017 at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary by Rev. James H. Morgan. Friends may visit from 12:30 p.m. until service time. Memorials may be directed to the Marshall University Foundation for the George R. Andrick Scholarship Fund, Hospice of Huntington or the Huntington Museum of Art.