Milton Greenebaum
1903 - 1973
The father of broadcasting in Saginaw was born February 8, 1903, in Chesaning, Michigan; the family came to Saginaw when Milton was a child.
He was graduated from Saginaw High School and from the University of Michigan where he was a member of Kappa Nu fraternity. In later years, he served three years as the fraternity’s national president.
After graduation, he joined his father’s business, Milton’s Clothing, which had stores in Saginaw, Bay City, Muskegon and Port Huron; but the then-infant broadcasting business fascinated him.
He became general manager of WBCM, Bay City, the first radio station in the Saginaw Valley. In 1940 he started WSAM, Saginaw’s first station, and built it into a powerful voice. He also built and operated WLEW in Bad Axe. Always looking to the future and with a sixth sense for making fortunate decisions, he got into television early as co-founder and vice president of WNEM-TV.
He was the founder and first president of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, was a member of the Station Advisory and Planning Committee of the National Broadcasting Company and was president of the Michigan Associated Press Broadcasting Association.
A demanding perfectionist, he could be a difficult employer, and sparks flew when he felt that his exacting standards were not being met. A long time employee said, “I wouldn’t take a million dollars to go through those years again but I also wouldn’t take a million dollars for what I learned working for him.”
Many other men and women who went on to carve out distinguished careers in the communications industry got started working for Milton and later acknowledged his influence on their lives: “Uncle Miltie” stories were sure to be traded at every get-together.
As a friend, he was warm, charming and intensely loyal. As a Saginawian, he thought of imaginative ways to better the city. He was an originator of the Saginaw Hall of Fame and served as its president and was also president of the Saginaw Historical Society. He conceived the idea for the Arnold Boutell Award which is conferred every year on a Saginawian for outstanding community service.
He was on the board of directors of the Catholic Family Service and was president of the Kiwanis Club.
After his retirement from broadcasting in 1955, he had time to devote himself to his hobbies of state and local historical research and coin and stamp collecting. In 1959 he won the American Philatelic Society plaque and silver tray for his display of Masonic cancellations.
He was on the governing board of the Clark Historical Collection at Central Michigan University and wrote several articles on the history of Michigan towns including one entitled Michigan, Michigan: The story of the little known capital of the Wolverine State.
At the time of his death, he was working with historian John Cumming on a biography of Jacob “Little Jake” Seligman, Saginaw’s legendary and colorful pioneer merchant and entrepreneur. Cumming later finished the book and published it in 1978, fulfilling Milton’s dream.
He was a member of Temple Beth-El, Saginaw Lodge No. 77, F. & A.M., the Bay City Consistory, Elf Khurafeh Shrine and the Saginaw Club. In 1932, he married Maude Angers who assisted him greatly in his broadcasting enterprises. She died in 1953.
He married Attilia Severo in 1954 and “Til” did much to make his retirement years happy and fulfilling. They travelled extensively—always with a zest for new and different experiences—and always returned to Saginaw with a fund of stories and information about the places they had visited. Milton Greenebaum died September 7, 1973.