49. Stu Epperson, Sr.

Stuart Epperson was Chairman and co-founder of Salem Media Group, a Christian broadcasting company with over 100 radio stations including 67 stations in all of the top 25 markets. He passed away on July 17, 2023. Stuart served as Chairman since founding the company in the 1980's with brother-in-law, Edward Atsinger. He has been involved in broadcasting since he was 7 years old when his late brother Ralph Epperson built a radio station in the home farm house in Ararat, VA, in 1943. He was inducted into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2005, Stu was named by Time Magazine one of The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America. He was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress 1984 and 1986 for the North Carolina 5th District. Stuart was deeply involved in helping at-risk kids and the homeless in Winston-Salem, NC, Jacksonville, FL and other cities. He was one of the founders of the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission. He was the founder of Salem Pregnancy Support Center, One Kid At A Time - a mentoring program and the Christian Association of Youth Mentoring, a national effort to find mentors for at-risk kids. He also started Kidz Xtreme, an inter-city Christian Youth Program focusing on Section 8 Housing, as well as the Promise Farm in Ararat, VA., a wonderful ministry to our wounded warriors and active duty families. He was also a former member of the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters Association. Stu was a dedicated supporter of Israel and his support was reflected throughout the Salem network.