Professor Emeritus of Speech Communication Julian Burroughs ('51), photographed in the art studio in his Faculty Drive home in 2004, died on May 7.
Professor Emeritus Julian Burroughs dies
Communication professor led the growth of WFDD and film studies curriculum
Julian C. Burroughs ('51), the longtime communication professor who led the growth of radio station WFDD into the modern era and introduced film studies into the curriculum 40 years ago, died May 7 in Winston-Salem. He was 80.
Burroughs joined the faculty in 1958 as an instructor in speech and manager of the campus radio station, WFDD, the first time a faculty member, and not a student, served in that capacity. For thirty-six years, he taught courses in radio, television and film. He stepped down as station manager of WFDD in 1981 and retired from teaching in 1994. He guided WFDD's development from a student-run station broadcasting only on campus in the 1950s to a professionally staffed National Public Radio station in the 1970s. A studio at the station was named in his honor in March.
"When most people think of Julian, they will remember the unparalleled importance of his contributions to Wake Forest," said Provost Emeritus Edwin G. Wilson ('43). "It's fair to say that for many of the years since WFDD started and until his retirement, he was the one who gave it the tone and quality that we have come to expect from WFFD."
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Burroughs was also the one who brought film studies — then in its infancy — to Wake Forest. In 1968, after taking film courses at the University of Southern California, he taught Wake Forest's first film class, "Introduction to Film." He bought a 16mm hand-held Bell & Howell movie camera so students could create their own films.
"He was the first person to teach courses in film before colleges placed a great emphasis on film," Wilson noted. "He was a very important figure in leading the communication department to include an emphasis on radio and television and film."
Hundreds of students learned the elements of broadcasting from Burroughs in the classroom, on film sets and in WFDD's studio, and many continued on to careers in broadcasting and journalism. Over his long career he taught courses in public speaking, acting, directing, writing for radio and TV, and radio-TV-film production. He was also instrumental in promoting serious films on campus and was one of the staunchest faculty supporters of the College Union's film series in the 1960s and '70s. He also produced numerous radio, television, film and video productions.
Associate Professor of Communication Mary Dalton ('83) worked for Burroughs at WFDD while she was a student and now teaches two of the courses that she once took from him — "Introduction to Film" and "Film Theory and Criticism."
"I don't think people recognize how visionary he was, to develop the broadcasting curriculum and film curriculum, and develop WFDD into a professional radio station," she said.
Dalton credits Burroughs with instilling in her a love of film and encouraging her to pursue her interests in film. "He once told me that teaching is sharing, and he shared his love of film with students," said Dalton, who recorded an oral history with Burroughs several months ago. "There's not a day that goes by when I show a film in class that I don't think about how I developed an appreciation and love of cinema in his classes."
Burroughs grew up in Rockingham, NC. He served in the U.S. Army for 18 months, including a 13-month stint in Korea, before enrolling at Wake Forest in 1948. An English major, he served as WFDD's student station manager in 1950-1951. After earning his master's and doctorate degrees in radio, television and theatre at the University of Michigan, he joined the faculty at Wake Forest in 1958. He served as acting director of the Alumni Activities office and editor of the Wake Forest Magazine in 1961-62.
But it was at WFDD, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, where he left his most lasting legacy. WFDD was founded as WAKE radio in 1948 and broadcast only on campus. In 1961, three yeas after Burroughs had become station manager, WFDD secured its FM license from the FCC to broadcast classical music and educational programs over-the-air in Winston-Salem. In 1967, WFDD became the first FM stereo station in Winston-Salem. And in 1971, WFDD became a charter member of National Public Radio, the first NPR affiliate station in North Carolina.
"Julian led the station through large and complex change," said former WFDD station manager and now its director of major giving Jay Banks ('74, MBA '76). Banks worked at the station as a student under Burroughs. "He was the person responsible for WFDD becoming the charter member of NPR in North Carolina. We all have much to be grateful to him for in setting the pace for excellent public radio in our community."
After he retired in 1994, Burroughs had more time to devote to other interests, including painting and sculpting. He had a painting studio in the basement of his home on Faculty Drive. Salemtowne, a retirement community in Winston-Salem, had planned before his death to host an exhibit of his paintings, and the exhibit will open on May 14 as originally scheduled.
Burroughs had lived with his wife, Jean, on Faculty Drive since 1963. "He had a great love of Wake Forest in its entirety, outside of the classroom and the radio station," Wilson said. "He was completely committed to Wake Forest." He was also an avid Wake Forest sports fan and followed the football team to the Orange Bowl in 2007 and the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2008.
Burroughs is survived by his wife, Jean, and two daughters and three grandchildren: Catherine Burroughs ('80) and her husband, Fredric Bogel, and their son Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs; and Lee Bradway ('83) and her husband, Scott Bradway ('83), and their children, Parker, a freshman at Wake Forest, and Brooks. Memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home; WFDD; or the Fine Arts Ministry at Centenary Methodist Church.
— Kerry M. King ('85)
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