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Roger Eugene Ailes Named 2011 Horatio Alger Award Recipient
Chairman and CEO of FOX News to be Inducted this Spring for Overcoming Adversity

WASHINGTON, February 4, 2011 – The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that Roger Eugene Ailes, chairman and CEO of FOX News and chairman of Fox Television Stations Group, will receive the 2011 Horatio Alger Award in recognition of his personal and professional success despite humble and challenging beginnings.

Ailes will be formally inducted into the association when he accepts the Horatio Alger Award on April 8, 2011, in Washington, D.C. Recipients of the award have overcome great adversity to achieve admirable accomplishments, to serve as examples of achieving the American Dream, and to offer countless hours and resources to help others in need.

“We are pleased to induct Roger Eugene Ailes into the Horatio Alger Association and pay tribute to his success in the face of hardship,” said Tony Novelly, president and CEO, Horatio Alger Association. “The 2011 members are extraordinary role models of strength, resolve and achievement and will help to continue our mission of helping young people achieve similar success.”

Roger Eugene Ailes was born in 1940 in Warren, Ohio, where his father worked in factory maintenance and as a house painter, and his mother worked as a grocery checker. Ailes worked with his father and had a paper route by the time he was 10. Ailes attended Ohio University, and paid for his tuition by working as a ditch digger and jack hammer operator every summer. After his parents divorced, while a freshman in college, he had to completely support himself. He worked as the manager of the school’s radio station, where he discovered his passion. Ailes graduated with a fine arts degree in 1962.

In the 1960s, Ailes began his career in television as a production assistant at a Cleveland television station. He became the show’s producer at age 25. Richard Nixon, a one-time guest on the program, hired Ailes as a media consultant during his presidential campaign. In 1970, Ailes founded Ailes Communications in New York. He has received many lifetime honors including an Emmy for his work as executive producer and director of Television and the Presidency. That same year, Ailes consulted with Ronald Regan during his bid for the presidency. In 1988, Ailes wrote a book with Jon Kraushar, “You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master Communicators.” He was also involved in George H.W. Bush’s victory against Michael Dukakis.

During his tenure as president of CNBC, Ailes tripled ratings and increased profits from $9 million to more than $100 million. In 1996, he created FOX News Channel and became chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group in 2005.

Ailes will be honored among 11 other remarkable individuals who will receive the 2011 award for their hard work, self-reliance and perseverance:

• Anousheh Ansari, Co-Founder and CEO, Prodea Systems, Inc. and Spaceflight Participant, Russian Space Program
• Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New York and Founder and Owner,Bloomberg, L.P.
• Leonardo DiCaprio, Actor and Film Producer
• Frederic V. Malek, Founder and Chairman, Thayer Lodging Group
• Harry S. Patten, Founder, Chairman and CEO, National Land Partners, LLC and Inland Management
• Josue “Joe” Robles Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
• James E. “Jim” Rohr, Chairman and CEO, PNC Financial Services Group (PNC Bank)
• Glenn Stearns, Chairman and Owner, Stearns Corporation
• Byron David Trott, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, BDT Capital Partners, LLC
• Rick Waugh, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Scotiabank (International Award Recipient–Canada)
• Herbert A. “Herbie” Wertheim, Chairman and CEO, Brain Power, Inc., Chairman, Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation, and Founding Chairman, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University

In addition, the 2011 Norman Vincent Peale Award will be presented to Doré Energy Corporation President William J. Doré. The Norman Vincent Peale Award is annually conferred on an association member who has made exceptional humanitarian contributions to society, who has been an active participant in the association, and who continues to exhibit courage, tenacity and integrity in the face of great challenges. The award is named in honor of Dr. Peale, who has been an outstanding leader of the association for more than 40 years. 

The 2011 members will receive their awards at the 2011 Horatio Alger Awards Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Activities include three days of meetings and celebrations in some of the nation’s most historic buildings. The Horatio Alger National Scholars, remarkable high school seniors who have excelled despite adversity, also will be formally honored during the three-day gathering.

A complete list of all of the Horatio Alger Members can be found at http://www.horatioalger.org/members.cfm.

About The Horatio Alger Association
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program, state scholarship programs, and graduate grants. The association will have awarded more than $87 million in scholarships through 2012 to at-risk students determined to earn college degrees. The association is a Combined Federal Campaign participant; # 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org

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