405:
the foundation for the Batten Honors
College full tuition scholarships. In 2024, Mrs. Batten made an unspecified gift to charter the Jane P. Batten & David R. Black School for International Studies, a joint venture of Virginia Wesleyan University and Lakeland (WI) University at their collaborative campus in Japan.
404:
which has funded a number of significant endowments at the university, among them the Batten
Professorship, the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award, which recognizes scholarship achievements among VWU faculty since 2004, and the Jane and Frank Batten Endowed Scholarships, which laid
399:
to construct the Jane P. Batten
Student Center in honor of his wife. Jane P. Batten joined the VWU Board of Trustees in 1981, served as chair of the board from 1995 to 1998, and was named trustee emerita in 2015. In 2017, Mrs. Batten made a donation to found the Batten Honors College of VWU
295:, these papers made up the core of the Landmark Publishing business. Under Landmark Publishing many other papers were started and acquired, including dailies, weeklies, community papers, and military papers across the southern and western parts of the United States.
159:, parlaying those papers into a media conglomerate by acquiring other newspapers, radio stations, and television stations and establishing a cable outlet as well as the national cable weather channel. Until 2008, the company, Landmark Communications, now
431:
on
January 1, 1998. In 2007, Batten was listed as the 190th richest person in the United States, according to Forbes 400, with a net worth of approximately $ 2.3 billion. Batten owned one of the Chesapeake Bay's largest racing yachts, the
193:
family. After the death of his father the following year, Batten and his mother moved in with his aunt and uncle, Fay and Samuel L. Slover. A Jewish native of
Tennessee, Slover had taken ownership of a newspaper in
886:
400:(including a later $ 80.2 million endowment) and a 44,000-square-foot academic building to support the BHC mission of environmental stewardship. Additionally, Mrs. Batten made a lead gift in 2003 to the VWU
1000:
415:
In 2009, he also started the $ 50 million Batten
Challenge at the Culver Academies, where he would match every dollar donated to the school during 2009-2010 with a dollar of his own.
209:, a boarding school in Indiana, to graduate in 1945 and later attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He received his undergraduate degree from the
389:
334:
debuted on May 2, 1982, after ten months in development. Although initially criticized, The
Weather Channel ultimately thrived and expanded to include its sister web site,
257:, a position not often taken in the state of Virginia during the 1950s; Virginia, like much of the American South, was undergoing deep resistance to the movement. In 1960
377:
130:(February 11, 1927 – September 10, 2009) was an American billionaire businessman, and co-founder of the first nationwide, 24-hour cable weather channel,
427:, with his wife Jane Parke Batten. They had two daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy, and one son, Frank Batten, Jr., who succeeded his father as chairman and CEO of
370:
1005:
838:
1035:
1010:
565:
1020:
1015:
782:
695:
479:
138:, once owned nine daily newspapers, more than 50 weekly newspapers, television stations in Las Vegas and Nashville, and a national chain of
738:"Landmark's Frank Batten Gives $ 32 Million to Old Dominion Biggest Gift in School's History to Create Faculty Chairs, Finance Research"
380:
at the
University of Virginia, $ 32 million to Old Dominion University, and various scholarships, such as the Batten Scholarship at the
331:
304:
903:
764:"Largest Gift in University History: Frank Batten Sr. Gives $ 100 Million to Create New School of Leadership and Public Policy at U.Va"
1040:
1025:
763:
254:
531:
1030:
995:
887:
VWU and
Lakeland University announce establishment of the Jane P. Batten and David R. Black School for International Studies
189:
Batten was born on
February 11, 1927, to Frank Batten, a bank auditor, and Dorothy Martin Batten, the daughter of a wealthy
930:
737:
955:
628:
396:
310:
602:
362:
506:
160:
135:
275:
214:
424:
376:
His gifts to schools and institutions include $ 32 million to the Harvard Business School, $ 60 million to the
167:
323:
forecaster, suggested creating a 24-hour cable weather station, the idea confirmed what Batten had learned at
428:
354:
103:
235:
Batten professionalized the newspaper he inherited in 1954 at age twenty-seven, and went on to acquire the
385:
210:
195:
139:
74:
281:
990:
985:
789:
319:
815:"Award-winning actress Glenn Close '74, D.A. '89 to speak at William & Mary's 2019 Commencement"
327:, that readers prioritized weather information as a primary reason for purchasing the daily paper.
249:
218:
147:
131:
454:
366:
931:"Frank Batten to Pass Landmark's Torch to his Son Media Company Includes Pilot, Weather Channel"
714:
691:
358:
287:
190:
156:
862:
814:
907:
654:
381:
206:
178:
767:
412:, for the school's library, as well as to the City of Norfolk for a new downtown library.
409:
262:
783:"Hollins Receives $ 2 Million Gift from Batten Family to Support Leadership Institute"
979:
684:
171:
969:
539:
629:"Frank Batten Sr., 82: Media Magnate, Philanthropist Launched the Weather Channel"
610:
938:
741:
335:
959:
566:"Frank Batten Sr., Media Executive and Founder of Weather Channel, Dies at 82"
484:
455:"Frank Batten Sr., Media Executive and Founder of Weather Channel, Dies at 82"
202:. Themselves childless, the Slovers raised young Frank as their own son.
94:
715:"Media Company Founder Frank Batten Donates $ 170 Million for Education"
603:"Frank Batten Sr., founder of Roanoke Times parent company, dies at 82"
222:
80:
16:
American media executive, co-founder of The Weather Channel (1927–2009)
314:
166:
Batten sold TeleCable (a multi-system cable TV company) in 1995 to
163:, was one of the country’s largest privately held media companies.
839:"State of the University: Record Fundraising and Endowment Growth"
392:, and in 2006, made a gift of $ 2 million to Hollins University.
388:, the largest gift in the university's history, to establish the
384:. On April 12, 2007, Batten made a gift of $ 100 million to the
686:
The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon
343:
The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon
98:
964:
341:
In 2002, on its twentieth anniversary, Batten co-authored
507:"Frank Batten Sr., retired Landmark chairman, dies at 82"
338:, which receives more than 300 million visits per month.
265:
for articles written in support of racial desegregation.
174:
and two private equity firms for nearly $ 3.5 billion.
532:"He Put the Weather Channel On the Radar of Millions"
198:, which he sold in 1907 to buy what would become the
145:
Batten assumed leadership in 1954 of two newspapers,
1001:
20th-century American newspaper publishers (people)
390:
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
170:for $ 1 billion and the Weather Channel in 2008 to
117:
109:
90:
67:
51:
28:
21:
683:
345:, recounting the creation of The Weather Channel.
378:Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
371:State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
8:
682:Frank Batten, Jeffrey L. Cruikshank (2002).
221:fraternity. He then received his MBA from
18:
904:"Slate 60 Appearances by Frank Batten Sr"
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
395:Frank Batten made a $ 20 million gift to
247:. During his early days as publisher of
622:
620:
445:
781:Katherine Walker (February 10, 2006).
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
549:
530:Miller, Stephan (September 11, 2009).
525:
523:
564:Hevesi, Dennis (September 10, 2009).
369:, and served as vice chairman of the
7:
1006:American television company founders
627:Schudel, Matt (September 11, 2009).
453:Hevesi, Dennis (11 September 2009).
305:The Weather Channel (United States)
601:Swift, Earl (September 10, 2009).
353:Batten became the first rector of
14:
1036:20th-century American journalists
893:2025-05-24. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
239:, which he later merged with the
929:Lon Wagner (December 17, 1997).
766:. April 12, 2007. Archived from
736:Philip Walzer (March 12, 2003).
317:Chicago chief meteorologist and
1011:Harvard Business School alumni
361:, served on the boards of the
1:
1021:University of Virginia alumni
1016:People from Norfolk, Virginia
655:"Interview with Frank Batten"
408:Frank Batten donated to the
397:Virginia Wesleyan University
299:Birth of The Weather Channel
653:Amy Blitz (February 2000).
402:Key to the Future Campaign,
363:College of William and Mary
217:, where he was a member of
177:Batten was chairman of the
1057:
690:. Harvard Business Press.
302:
161:Landmark Media Enterprises
136:Landmark Media Enterprises
1041:American male journalists
1026:Journalists from Virginia
972:- Harvard Business School
276:The Greensboro Daily News
273:In 1965, Batten acquired
215:Charlottesville, Virginia
425:Virginia Beach, Virginia
1031:Culver Academies alumni
662:Harvard Business School
536:The Wall Street Journal
429:Landmark Communications
355:Old Dominion University
291:in 1969. Together with
200:Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch
104:Landmark Communications
906:. 2007. Archived from
613:on September 30, 2012.
542:on September 14, 2009.
386:University of Virginia
211:University of Virginia
196:Newport News, Virginia
140:classified advertising
75:University of Virginia
996:American billionaires
282:The Greensboro Record
134:. His media company,
62:Norfolk, Virginia, US
46:Norfolk, Virginia, US
941:on October 23, 2012.
910:on February 14, 2009
795:on November 19, 2008
320:Good Morning America
253:, Batten championed
205:Batten attended the
744:on October 23, 2012
633:The Washington Post
325:The Virginian-Pilot
293:The Virginian-Pilot
259:The Virginian-Pilot
250:The Virginian-Pilot
230:The Virginian-Pilot
219:Delta Kappa Epsilon
181:from 1982 to 1987.
148:The Virginian-Pilot
132:The Weather Channel
935:The Virginia Pilot
863:"Evolving profile"
819:William & Mary
570:The New York Times
459:The New York Times
367:Hollins University
269:Media acquisitions
55:September 10, 2009
867:Virginia Business
697:978-1-57851-559-2
607:The Roanoke Times
359:Norfolk, Virginia
288:The Roanoke Times
157:Norfolk, Virginia
125:
124:
43:February 11, 1927
1048:
943:
942:
937:. Archived from
926:
920:
919:
917:
915:
900:
894:
884:
878:
877:
875:
874:
859:
853:
852:
850:
849:
835:
829:
828:
826:
825:
811:
805:
804:
802:
800:
794:
788:. Archived from
787:
778:
772:
771:
760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
740:. Archived from
733:
727:
726:
724:
722:
717:. March 16, 2003
711:
705:
704:
689:
679:
673:
672:
670:
668:
659:
650:
644:
643:
641:
639:
624:
615:
614:
609:. Archived from
598:
581:
580:
578:
576:
561:
544:
543:
538:. Archived from
527:
518:
517:
515:
513:
503:
497:
496:
494:
492:
476:
470:
469:
467:
465:
450:
423:Batten lived in
382:Culver Academies
207:Culver Academies
179:Associated Press
58:
42:
40:
19:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1045:
976:
975:
952:
947:
946:
928:
927:
923:
913:
911:
902:
901:
897:
885:
881:
872:
870:
861:
860:
856:
847:
845:
837:
836:
832:
823:
821:
813:
812:
808:
798:
796:
792:
785:
780:
779:
775:
770:on May 7, 2007.
762:
761:
757:
747:
745:
735:
734:
730:
720:
718:
713:
712:
708:
698:
681:
680:
676:
666:
664:
657:
652:
651:
647:
637:
635:
626:
625:
618:
600:
599:
584:
574:
572:
563:
562:
547:
529:
528:
521:
511:
509:
505:
504:
500:
490:
488:
478:
477:
473:
463:
461:
452:
451:
447:
442:
421:
410:Norfolk Academy
351:
332:Weather Channel
307:
301:
271:
241:Ledger-Dispatch
237:Portsmouth Star
233:
187:
153:The Ledger-Star
102:
86:
77:(undergraduate)
68:Alma mater
63:
60:
56:
47:
44:
38:
36:
35:
34:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1054:
1052:
1044:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
978:
977:
974:
973:
967:
962:
951:
950:External links
948:
945:
944:
921:
895:
879:
854:
830:
806:
773:
755:
728:
706:
696:
674:
645:
616:
582:
545:
519:
498:
480:"Frank Batten"
471:
444:
443:
441:
438:
420:
417:
350:
347:
303:Main article:
300:
297:
270:
267:
263:Pulitzer Prize
232:
227:
186:
183:
142:publications.
123:
122:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
92:
88:
87:
85:
84:
78:
71:
69:
65:
64:
61:
59:(aged 82)
53:
49:
48:
45:
32:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1053:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
983:
981:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
957:
954:
953:
949:
940:
936:
932:
925:
922:
909:
905:
899:
896:
892:
888:
883:
880:
868:
864:
858:
855:
844:
840:
834:
831:
820:
816:
810:
807:
791:
784:
777:
774:
769:
765:
759:
756:
743:
739:
732:
729:
716:
710:
707:
703:
702:frank batten.
699:
693:
688:
687:
678:
675:
663:
656:
649:
646:
638:September 11,
634:
630:
623:
621:
617:
612:
608:
604:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
583:
571:
567:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
550:
546:
541:
537:
533:
526:
524:
520:
512:September 10,
508:
502:
499:
487:
486:
481:
475:
472:
460:
456:
449:
446:
439:
437:
435:
430:
426:
419:Personal life
418:
416:
413:
411:
406:
403:
398:
393:
391:
387:
383:
379:
374:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
348:
346:
344:
339:
337:
333:
328:
326:
322:
321:
316:
312:
306:
298:
296:
294:
290:
289:
284:
283:
278:
277:
268:
266:
264:
260:
256:
255:desegregation
252:
251:
246:
242:
238:
231:
228:
226:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
203:
201:
197:
192:
184:
182:
180:
175:
173:
172:NBC Universal
169:
164:
162:
158:
154:
150:
149:
143:
141:
137:
133:
129:
120:
116:
112:
108:
105:
100:
96:
93:
91:Occupation(s)
89:
82:
79:
76:
73:
72:
70:
66:
54:
50:
31:
27:
20:
939:the original
934:
924:
914:February 28,
912:. Retrieved
908:the original
898:
891:www.vwu.edu.
890:
882:
871:. Retrieved
869:. 2018-04-26
866:
857:
846:. Retrieved
842:
833:
822:. Retrieved
818:
809:
799:February 28,
797:. Retrieved
790:the original
776:
768:the original
758:
748:February 28,
746:. Retrieved
742:the original
731:
721:February 28,
719:. Retrieved
709:
701:
685:
677:
667:February 28,
665:. Retrieved
661:
648:
636:. Retrieved
632:
611:the original
606:
573:. Retrieved
569:
540:the original
535:
510:. Retrieved
501:
489:. Retrieved
483:
474:
462:. Retrieved
458:
448:
433:
422:
414:
407:
401:
394:
375:
352:
349:Philanthropy
342:
340:
329:
324:
318:
311:John Coleman
308:
292:
286:
280:
274:
272:
258:
248:
244:
243:to form the
240:
236:
234:
229:
204:
199:
188:
176:
165:
152:
146:
144:
128:Frank Batten
127:
126:
57:(2009-09-10)
33:Frank Batten
23:Frank Batten
991:2009 deaths
986:1927 births
965:Weather.com
956:AP Obituary
843:www.vwu.edu
491:January 20,
464:January 20,
336:Weather.com
261:received a
245:Ledger-Star
113:Jane Batten
980:Categories
960:Legacy.com
873:2022-05-23
848:2022-05-23
824:2022-05-23
485:Legacy.com
440:References
185:Early life
39:1927-02-11
313:, former
285:, adding
225:in 1952.
118:Children
95:Chairman
970:Profile
223:Harvard
191:Norfolk
81:Harvard
694:
575:May 2,
434:Shadow
315:WLS-TV
110:Spouse
793:(PDF)
786:(PDF)
658:(PDF)
309:When
83:(MBA)
916:2009
801:2009
750:2009
723:2009
692:ISBN
669:2009
640:2009
577:2010
514:2009
493:2021
466:2021
365:and
330:The
279:and
151:and
97:and
52:Died
29:Born
357:in
213:in
168:TCI
155:in
99:CEO
982::
958:.
933:.
889:.
865:.
841:.
817:.
700:.
660:.
631:.
619:^
605:.
585:^
568:.
548:^
534:.
522:^
482:.
457:.
436:.
373:.
918:.
876:.
851:.
827:.
803:.
752:.
725:.
671:.
642:.
579:.
516:.
495:.
468:.
121:3
101:,
41:)
37:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.