Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 15, 2008 at 10:19:21:
William Lemanski 1921 ~ 2008
45-year career paralleled TV's growth
'Polish Prince' aided many in their careers
Shortly after William Lemanski returned from fighting in World War II, he began selling TV sets and radio systems for Philco and CBS to furniture stores around Chicago. But rather than rhapsodizing about the technical aspects of the equipment, Mr. Lemanski preferred to tell customers about the music they could hear and the shows they could watch, his daughter Marci Lemanski said.
Eventually, CBS realized that Mr. Lemanski would be better suited to selling advertising time for their stations and moved him to their media sales department. The switch launched a successful 45-year career in the industry that took Mr. Lemanski through several Chicago stations and into the new industry of cable TV.
Mr. Lemanski, 87, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, from heart complications at his home in Westchester, his family said.
The youngest of 14 children born to Polish immigrants on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Mr. Lemanski enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Carl Schurz High School, fighting in a tank in Europe and earning several medals. While recuperating at home from a combat injury, Mr. Lemanski met Doris Flanagan. They married in 1947.
As Mr. Lemanski's career in media sales developed, he moved from WBBM-AM to WCFL radio, where he served as general manager of the station.
At WCFL, he negotiated contracts to air Chicago Blackhawks hockey games and University of Illinois football games, and helped plan the first Chicago Summerfest, a predecessor of Taste of Chicago.
When cable TV began to grow in the 1980s, Mr. Lemanski left radio to start his own company selling ad space for the then-fledgling ESPN and local cable franchises. Called "The Polish Prince" by colleagues, "He was so generous with his experience and time for so many people who came through the industry," said his son, Larry Lemanski. "He was a guy who would take people under his wing and teach them, introduce them to clients and launch their careers."
After his retirement in 1993, Mr. Lemanski volunteered at Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital in Maywood and finally snagged his dream job: serving as a marshal at the Timber Trails Golf Course.
"He always said, 'When I retire, I'm going to work at a golf course,' and he did," Marci Lemanski said. "His philosophy was make your plan and work your plan. He always had a plan, and he always followed those steps."
In addition to his daughter and son, Mr. Lemanski is survived by his wife, Doris; another son, Jim; another daughter, Jean; and seven grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hursen Funeral Home, 4001 West Roosevelt Rd., Hillside A funeral mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. at Divine Infant Catholic Church, 1601 Newcastle Ave., Westchester.
(Chicago Tribune)