Temple University’s Klein College will present its first Klein College Tribute Award to Kal Rudman, a broadcasting pioneer and Temple graduate, in recognition of his significant contributions to the college.
The award will be presented by Klein College Dean David Boardman at the college’s winter graduation ceremonies at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
Through the Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation, Rudman has enabled the Klein College to create a number of programs that provide students with significant experiences in television.
“Few people have had as much positive impact on our college as Kal Rudman,” Boardman said. “His generosity and his vision have created world-class opportunities for Klein College students.”
Over the years, the Rudman Foundation has provided $2.2 million to the Temple University Television (TUTV) program. An initial $1.2 million donation in 2010 helped establish a state-of-the art media production center that houses TUTV, an award-winning cable television station widely considered one of the top college TV stations in the country. The Rudman gifts also helped fund some of the college’s most successful and ambitious projects, including live coverage of the 2012 Olympics in London, the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia last year and the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Since its founding, TUTV has become a collegiate CNN affiliate, giving students access to content gathered across the nation and around the globe. The Rudman gifts also enabled the college to recently launch its first Spanish- language programs, La Charla, a talk show; Lo Ultimo, a 15-minute, weekly newscast; and Update Ahora, a daily news program.
Klein College also uses Rudman funding to send students on the road to cover Temple football, men's and women's basketball games and championship games.
“The commitment that [Rudman] has made and shown to our students is beyond generous and, most important, is unwavering,” said TUTV general manager Paul Gluck.
That commitment includes supporting two Klein College courses, the TUTV Practicum and the TUTV Field Sports Production Workshop, where students learn how to produce live television programs, while producing the content broadcast on air, online and on mobile platforms.
Before Rudman began life as a philanthropist, he started as a Top 40 disc jockey at WCAM in Camden, New Jersey. Even then, he was giving back to his community, working simultaneously as a special education teacher. As his music expertise grew, the world took note and Rudman was hired as the first rhythm and blues editor/columnist at Billboard Magazine. In 1968, he founded Friday Morning Quarterback, an influential music trade magazine. Due to his ability to predict top hits, Rudman earned the name “The Man With the Golden Ears.”
His experience led to multiple appearances on “The Merv Griffin Show,” a position as the music expert on “The Today Show” and “The Tomorrow Show” with Tom Snyder. He also spent much of his career as the color announcer for what was then known as the World Wrestling Foundation.
“In creating this Tribute Award, we wanted to pay special honor to people who have given extraordinarily of their time, energy, spirit and resources,” Boardman said. “Kal is the perfect first recipient.”