Raycom Media is announcing that Jim Wilcox, Vice President and General Manager of WALB, will retire at the end of 2018, marking 26 years at WALB, the Raycom Media-owned ABC/NBC affiliate in Albany, Georgia.

Wilcox has spent most of his 43 years as a broadcaster in his home state of Georgia. He launched his career working in sales and management positions at WLTZ/Columbus, WTVM/Columbus and WGXA/Macon. In 1987, he moved to WSPA in Greenville-Spartanburg, SC as National Sales Manager and then General Sales Manager. Wilcox returned to Georgia in 1993 to become General Sales Manager at WALB and has served as Vice President and General Manager for the last 21 years.

“All local television stations provide information and entertainment. The best of them record and reflect the values of the people they serve,” said Wilcox. He continued, “It has been an honor and a privilege to have led the WALB team on that mission.”

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters named Wilcox “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2015 and inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2016. Other honors include the 2005 “Trailblazer Award” from the 100 Black Men of Albany and the 1999 “Dream Award” from the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration Committee.

“Service to the community and a focus on quality, results and impact are core to who Jim is and how he has led WALB in serving South Georgia for 26 years,” commented Raycom Media Executive Vice President of Content & Operations, Susana Schuler. “His impact shows across Raycom Media with the many talented employees that Jim and his team have groomed and grown from WALB to all parts of the country in key leadership positions. I am proud to have had the chance to work with Jim over the years.”

Jim’s growth from within attitude is also paying off as Raycom Media will be promoting current WALB General Sales Manager, Bruce Austin, to replace Wilcox as Vice President and General Manager in January of 2019.

Under Wilcox’s leadership, WALB has been named “Station of the Year” eight of the last 11 years and “Community Service Station of the Year” nine of the last 11 years by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. The station has also been honored with many Emmys, Tellys and AP Awards during his tenure. Wilcox has always been an active member of local and industry organizations, including the National Association of Broadcasters’ 100 Plus Board and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ Board of Directors.