SEATTLE – Bob Behnke, past chairman of the KCTS Television Board, has received the Public Television Leadership Award from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The award recognizes volunteers whose work in the areas of advocacy, community building and institutional advancement has made a substantial impact on the funding needs of their station or the industry as a whole. Mr. Behnke was honored for helping to create the Fund for Programming Excellence, a revolving fund separate from day-to-day station operations that allows KCTS to quickly respond to special programming opportunities.

The award was presented by PBS President Ervin S. Duggan on September 20, at the PBS Development Conference in Palm Desert, California.

Mr. Behnke joined the KCTS Board in 1974, when he was Vice President of the Skinner Corporation. He recently completed his third three-year term on the KCTS Television Board, which he chaired from 1993 through 1996. Mr. Behnke is currently Director and Chairman of the Board of R.E.B. Enterprises. In addition to his affiliation with KCTS, Mr. Behnke, along with his wife, Sally, is a founding member of the Seattle, Hearing and Speech Center, a special school for the deaf. Mr. Behnke is also a past Chairman of the Board of PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Charitable and Cultural Organizations), a past Board member of Cornish College of the Arts and a member of the Board of the Henry Art Museum.

The Television Leadership Award was also presented to Barbara and Larry Keller, for their many years of service to WCET/Cincinnati, Ohio; Alice martin, who helped generate significant support for WNIT/Elkhart, Indiana; and Charles "Butch" Swindells, former chairman of Oregon Public Broadcasting, for his stewardship of a successful capital campaign.

KCTS, a PBS member station, is internationally recognized as a producer of high-quality programming and as a leader in the development of High Definition Television and digital television.

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