Cathy Hughes facts for kids

Catherine Liggins Hughes (born Catherine Elizabeth Woods; April 22, 1947) is an American businesswoman, radio and television personality. She is known for her amazing achievements in the media world. She has been listed as the second-richest Black woman in the United States, after Oprah Winfrey.

Cathy Hughes founded a big media company called Radio One, which is now known as Urban One. In 1999, her company became publicly traded. This means anyone could buy shares in it. When this happened, Cathy Hughes became the first African-American woman to lead a company listed on the stock market. In the 1970s, she also helped create a popular radio music style called "The Quiet Storm" on Howard University's radio station WHUR-FM.

Early Life and Education

Cathy Hughes was born to Helen Jones Woods and William Alfred Woods. Her mother was a talented trombonist who played in a famous band called the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Her father was the first African-American to get an accounting degree from Creighton University. Her grandfather, Laurence C. Jones, was a successful educator in Mississippi.

Cathy grew up in a busy home with many siblings. Her family didn't have much money when she was young. She found her love for music early on, listening to bands like Everly Brothers and The Platters. To help her family, she got her first job at just 14 years old, even though she had to pretend to be older.

She went to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha, Nebraska. Later, she took business classes at the University of Nebraska Omaha and Creighton University. Even though she didn't finish her degree, her studies helped her get a job as a sales manager at Howard University's radio station, WHUR-FM.

Building a Media Empire

Before working in radio, Cathy Hughes worked for an African American newspaper called the Omaha Star in the mid-1960s. In 1969, she started her radio career at KOWH in Omaha. She then moved to Washington, D.C. for a job at Howard University.

In 1973, Cathy became the General Sales Manager at WHUR-FM, Howard University's radio station. In her first year, she helped the station's income grow from $250,000 to $3 million! By 1975, she made history as the first woman vice president and general manager of a radio station in Washington, D.C. It was also during this time that she created the "Quiet Storm" radio format. This new style of urban radio became very popular and was used by over 480 stations across the country.

Founding Radio One

In 1979, Cathy Hughes and her husband at the time, Dewey Hughes, decided to buy their own radio station. They faced many challenges, being turned down by 32 banks. But they didn't give up! In 1980, they finally bought the AM radio station WOL 1450 in Washington, D.C..

When they bought the station, it was in bad shape. Cathy faced money problems and even had to move into the radio station with her young son. But she worked hard to turn things around. She changed the station's music to a 24-hour talk radio format with the powerful theme, "Information is Power." Cathy herself hosted the Morning Show for 11 years.

In 1982, the bank wanted her to play more music. But Cathy decided to keep the talk format in the morning and play music throughout the day. Today, WOL is still one of the most listened-to talk radio stations in Washington, D.C.

Growing Radio One

Cathy's company, Radio One (now Urban One), continued to grow. In 1987, she bought radio station WMMJ. In 1995, Radio One bought another station, WKYS.

Eventually, Radio One owned 70 radio stations in nine major cities across the U.S. In 1999, Radio One became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange. This was a huge step, making Cathy Hughes the first African-American woman to lead a publicly traded company.

As of 2007, Cathy's son, Alfred Liggins III, became the CEO and president of Radio One. Cathy remains the chairperson, guiding the company. She is also a part-owner of BET industries.

In January 2004, Radio One launched TV One. This is a national cable and satellite television network for African-American adults. Cathy hosts a show on the network called TV One on One, where she interviews famous people.

Both Cathy Hughes and her son, Alfred Liggins, have been named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young. Cathy is also a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. In 2015, a street corner in Washington, D.C. was unofficially named "Cathy Hughes Corner" to honor her. Her life story is also featured in a documentary series called Profiles of African-American Success. In 2016, Cathy Hughes was honored in the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2020, she joined the Board of Trustees at Creighton University.

Personal Life

Cathy Hughes was married to Alfred Liggins Jr. from 1965 to 1967. They had one son, Alfred Liggins III, born in 1965. She later married Dewey Hughes in 1979, and they divorced in 1987. They did not have children together.

Cathy is a Catholic. When she visits Omaha, she attends St Benedict the Moor Catholic Church. She lives in Pasadena, Maryland.

Awards and Recognition

Cathy Hughes has received many awards for her amazing work.

• In 1995, she received an honorary doctorate from Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore.
• In 1988, she was the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the twelfth annual ceremony.
• She is a member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce's Business Hall of Fame.
• In 2000, she received the First Annual Black History Hall of Fame Award.
• She was also given the National Action Network's "Keepers of the Dream" award. This award honors people who help continue the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Radio One is a very successful company. In 2015, it was listed among the top Black-owned businesses, with a net worth of $450.8 million.

See also

• Laurence C. Jones
• Piney Woods Country Life School (Cathy Hughes serves as a Board Member)