Louise “Scottie” Stephenson worked at Capitol Broadcasting Company longer than anyone in history (only recently surpassed by Board Chair & COO Jim Goodmon). Stephenson spent 58 years at CBC, serving the last forty-nine as Corporate Secretary and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.
Scottie was hired at WRAL-AM Radio in 1944, where she wrote ad copy, answered phones, posted the daily casualty list during WWII, gathered birth announcements from the local hospital and became the “Lost & Found” lady on Fred Fletcher’s morning show.
Stephenson never went to college but was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge. She could do it all: when an accountant was needed, she balanced the books; when reports had to be filed with the FCC, she studied the detailed requirements and submitted the information with perfection.
“I don’t know how we could have done what we’ve done without Scottie Stephenson,” said CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon.
Following her radio days, Scottie’s role with the company expanded when Capitol Broadcasting set its sights on television. She was the only female on the five-person team that won the FCC license for WRAL-TV in the early 1950s.
Stephenson helped research and gather a veritable mountain of documents for WRAL’s application—3,000 pages in all. During the arduous 75-day hearing in Washington, DC she underwent hours of grueling questioning and never flinched. In the end, Scottie Stephenson was instrumental in Capitol Broadcasting winning the Channel 5 license and coming home victorious.
Once the license was won, Scottie set out to organize the new station’s workforce. She was the first person on the station payroll and by the time WRAL-TV went on the air in 1956, she had created job descriptions for almost every position. As WRAL’s startup staff was hired, Scottie worked wherever she was needed—serving as Administrative Assistant to the President and taking on temporary positions in the Traffic, Sales and Personnel departments.
Scottie used her newly-attained regulatory knowledge to become the station’s in-house FCC expert. She was responsible for all FCC filings, a cumbersome task that included reams of paperwork and technical detail.
Stephenson made an impact on the community as well, working as an advocate for the arts and the underprivileged. She spent 16 years on the board of the Tammy Lynn Center for profoundly and severely retarded children. She volunteered for the Raleigh Fine Arts Society and the North Carolina Symphony and chaired the Communications Committee of the Raleigh Junior Women’s Club.
One of her favorite projects was the Raleigh Golden Years Annual Holiday Celebration at the Convention Center. Scottie coordinated the festivities for over four decades and saw the luncheon grow from 50 to over 1,500 people.
Scottie received many accolades during her career, including Business and Professional Woman of the Year by the YWCA. She was also the charter recipient of the Junior Women’s Club Outstanding Working Member award. The Raleigh Little Theatre even named its outdoor amphitheater after her to honor years of service to the organization.
As Stephenson’s years at the company grew, CBC had to create gifts to recognize her record-setting tenure at the annual long-term employees’ luncheon. She so far outranked others in longevity that the company presented her with several unique rewards, including a marked parking space near the building entrance.
After Scottie’s death, CBC President Jim Goodmon permanently affixed her name to a parking spot at company headquarters on Western Boulevard; it was a reminder of her legacy and contributions. Goodmon said he wanted future employees to always ask, “Who is Scottie Stephenson?” and thus learn her story of determination, quality and excellence.
Louise “Scottie” Stephenson died April 15, 2002 after a brief illness. She was 80.
