Chester F. Collier

CHESTER COLLIER, 80, TELEVISION EXECUTIVE Chester F. ?Chet? Collier, an influential and highly acclaimed television executive whose career spanned six decades, died on August 15, 2007 at his home in Wellington, Florida. Mr. Collier was 80. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Collier served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He graduated from Emerson College in 1950 and soon thereafter began his career by working as a production assistant at a Boston television station. Mr. Collier worked his way up the ranks of the broadcast television industry and, in 1963, was named president of Group W Productions where, over the course of 14 years, he oversaw the development and production of popular programs such as ?The Regis Philbin Show?, The Merv Griffin Show?, and the ?The Mike Douglas Show?. During his illustrious career, Mr. Collier also served as president of Westinghouse Broadcasting, executive vice president of Metromedia Corporation, senior vice president of CNBC and, most recently, senior vice president of programming for Fox News. Over the years, Mr. Collier received numerous awards for his work in television, including seven Emmys, a George Foster Peabody Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. Mr. Collier also received an honorary doctorate from Emerson College where a journalism scholarship bears his name. Mr. Collier?s enduring mark on broadcast television, however, is probably best measured by the scores of television executives throughout the country who are Mr. Collier?s personal friends and who readily credit Mr. Collier for their success. A dog show enthusiast, Mr. Collier was a member of the Westminster Kennel Club for over 30 years. For 22 years, he served as either the club?s president or chairman of its prestigious annual show ? a two day event that, because of Mr. Collier?s efforts, is broadcast live on national television every year and is widely deemed to be the preeminent dog show in the United States.