Profile of BET founder Robert Johnson

Tuesday, June 3, 1997 | 11:32 a.m.

Some details on BET founder Robert L. Johnson:

NAME: Robert L. Johnson

TITLE: chairman and chief executive officer of BET Holdings, Inc., Washington, D.C.

AGE: 51

BIRTHPLACE: Hickory, Miss., raised in Freeport, Ill.

EDUCATION: Graduate of the University of Illinois with a master's degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

FAMILY: Wife, Sheila, is a board member and vice president of BET and heads the company's corporate affairs department. Two children, ages 7 and 11.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY: Held positions with the Washington Urban League, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and was press secretary to Walter Fauntroy, congressional delegate from the District of Columbia. Joined the National Cable Television Association in 1976 as vice president of government relations. Launched BET in 1980.

Serves on the boards of Hilton Hotels Corp., the United Negro College Fund, the National Cable Television Association's Academy of Cable Programming, the American Film Institute and the Advertising Council.

AWARDS: Cablevision Magazine's 20/20 Vision Award, honoring him as one of the 20 most influential people in the cable industry; NAACP Image Award; Distinguished Alumni Award from Princeton University, and the President's Award from the National Cable Television Association.

HOBBIES: Boxing, football, basketball, skiing and tennis.

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