Armstrong Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armstrong Williams
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| Born | February 5, 1962 Marion, South Carolina, U.S.
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| Education | South Carolina State University, (B.S.) |
| Occupation | TV host, nationally syndicated columnist, political activist, and entrepreneur |
| Political party | Republican |
Armstrong Williams (born February 5, 1962) is an American political commentator, entrepreneur, author, and talk show host. He shares his opinions on politics and other topics through a newspaper column that appears in many papers across the country. He has also hosted radio and TV shows.
Armstrong Williams owns a media company called Howard Stirk Holdings. This company buys and operates many television stations. He is also a long-time friend and colleague of Ben Carson, who used to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Williams is also a part-owner of The Baltimore Sun newspaper.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Armstrong Williams was born on February 5, 1962, in Marion, South Carolina. He was one of ten children. He grew up on his family's 200-acre tobacco farm.
In 1981, he graduated from South Carolina State University. He earned a degree in Political Science and English. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
After college, Williams worked in government. He was an assistant to Clarence Thomas, who later became a Supreme Court Justice. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as an advisor to U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond.
Media Career
Armstrong Williams has had a long career in media, working in radio, television, and as a writer.
Radio Shows
In 1998, Williams started a national radio show with The Salem Radio Network. This show was broadcast on many radio stations across the country. Later, in 2008, he began hosting a nightly talk show called The Armstrong Williams Show on XM Satellite Radio.
Television Programs
Williams has also worked in television. He was a political analyst for Sinclair Broadcasting Group. From 2002 to 2005, he hosted a show called On Point with Armstrong Williams on the TVOne cable network.
Today, Williams hosts a TV show called The Armstrong Williams Show. He has also hosted other shows like The Right Side Forum and The Right Side with Armstrong Williams.
Newspaper Column
Armstrong Williams writes a newspaper column that is published in many different newspapers. This is called a "syndicated column."
Howard Stirk Holdings
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| Private | |
| Industry | Broadcast media |
| Founded | April 11, 2013 |
| Founder | Armstrong Williams |
| Headquarters |
Washington D.C.
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| Owner | Armstrong Williams |
| Parent | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
In 2013, Armstrong Williams started his own media company called Howard Stirk Holdings. The company name comes from his mother's middle name (Howard) and his father's middle name (Stirk).
His company buys and owns television stations. For example, in 2013, Howard Stirk Holdings bought two TV stations: WEYI-TV in Michigan and WWMB in South Carolina.
In 2014 and 2015, his company bought more stations in places like Charleston, South Carolina, and Las Vegas, Nevada. These purchases made Armstrong Williams the largest African-American owner of television stations in the United States at that time.
Here are some of the TV stations currently owned by Howard Stirk Holdings:
| City of license / market | Station |
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Primary network affiliation |
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| Anniston–Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama | WGWW | 40 (9) | 2015 | H&I |
| WSES | 33 (33) | 2015 | H&I | |
| Saginaw–Flint, Michigan | WEYI-TV 1 | 25 (30) | 2013 | NBC |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | KHSV | 21 (2) | 2015 | MeTV |
| Lebanon–Lancaster–York–Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | WXBU | 15 (23) | 2015 | Univision |
| Charleston, South Carolina | WGWG | 4 (34) | 2015 | MeTV |
| Florence–Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | WWMB 1 | 21 (21) | 2013 | Dabl |
- 1 Operated under a LMA by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Other Activities
Williams is a close associate of Ben Carson, who was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Williams was an important supporter during Carson's campaign for president in 2016.
He is also on the national board of the Carson Scholars Fund. This is a non-profit organization that helps students.
In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Williams to a special commission. This group helps choose people for the White House Fellows program.
In 2021, Armstrong Williams received an honorary doctorate degree from South Carolina State University. This is a special award that recognizes his achievements.
Williams is also the founder and CEO of the Graham Williams Group. This company helps with marketing, advertising, and public relations.
See Also
- Bush administration payment of columnists
- Black conservatism in the United States
Books by Williams
Armstrong Williams has written several books:
- Armstrong Williams, What Black and White America Must Do Now: A Prescription to Move Beyond Race, Hot Books, August 2020. ISBN: 0-029-35365-3
- Armstrong Williams, Reawakening Virtues: Restoring What Makes America Great, New Chapter Publisher, July 2011, ISBN: 0-9827918-5-2
- Armstrong Williams, Letters to a young victim: Hope and Healing in America's Inner Cities, Scribner Paper Fiction, October 1996. ISBN: 0-684-82466-3
- Armstrong Williams, Beyond Blame: How We Can Succeed by Breaking the Dependency Barrier, Free Press, May 1995. ISBN: 0-02-935365-3
In 2022, he also co-authored a book called Crisis in the Classroom.
