Red Lion Co-Founder John H. Norris Passes

Condolences to family and friends of JOHN HARDEN NORRIS, the co-founder of RED LION BROADCASTING CO., who died SUNDAY in YORK, PA at 88, according to the YORK DAILY RECORD. NORRIS and his father, Rev. JOHN MURRAY NORRIS, founded the company in 1950.

NORRIS' company, which owned Religion WGCB-A-F and WGCB-TV/RED LION, PA as well as shortwave station WINB, is best known for a landmark case involving the "Fairness Doctrine" that ended up in the SUPREME COURT, which ruled that the company's Religion WGCB/RED LION, PA was required to give journalist FRED COOK equal time for free to rebut allegations on the air by evangelist Rev. BILLY JAMES HARGIS that he had been fired from a newspaper for making a false charge and had written a book to smear BARRY GOLDWATER. NORRIS offered the time for a fee, but the court agreed with the FCC that the time should be free.

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