PULLMAN, Wash.Robert A. Mott’s pioneering work as a founder of National Public Radio was recognized by NPR’s executive director of news programming, Ellen McDonnell, at this year’s Washington State University Murrow Symposium on April 20. Mott was also feted at the symposium scholarship dinner that evening, when the Robert A. Mott Distinguished Excellence Award was announced.
“I created the Robert A. Mott Distinguished Excellence award to honor his legacy,” said Bob McConnell, a 1962 graduate of the WSU communication program. “Mott was a caring mentor and an instrumental leader who believed in providing exceptional, hands-on experiences through the radio and later television stations of WSU.”
NPR’s Ellen McDonnell echoed McConnell’s praise as she spoke of Robert Mott’s efforts to form the public radio system. “Thanks to Robert Mott, we now have hundreds of NPR member stations across this nation and over 27 million listeners who trust the programs we provide.” McDonnell presented Mott with a NPR Radio by Livio, an internet radio capable of playing programs from stations across the country. “We hope Mr. Mott enjoys this tribute to his groundbreaking work.”
Mott served with the faculty and staff of WSU for twelve years beginning in 1956. He worked as a writer and news director for KWSU AM, the third oldest educational radio station licensed in the United States. He taught a number of courses, principally broadcast journalism. For nine years, he wrote “Science in the News” a fifteen minute weekly radio program carried by more than 50 stations in the Pacific Northwest and on the English Language Service of the Voice of America. When WSU activated its public television station in September 1962, Mott was manager-in-charge of the construction of Channel 10, KWSU-TV.
From 1968 until 1970, Mott was Executive Director of National Educational Radio (NER), a division of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters in Washington, D.C. While serving as the executive director of NER, Mott was instrumental in the establishment and development of NPR. After the activation of NPR, Mott joined the newly-formed Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where he was director for station relations from 1970 until 1974. Mott also served in various capacities for the Public Service Satellite Consortium until 1984.
Robert Mott and his wife, Edith, reside in San Diego.