Idaho Public Television General Manger Peter Morrill is retiring, the state Board of Education announced today.
Morrill
“Peter has been an exceptional leader, and our state has been truly fortunate to have a person of his caliber at the helm of Idaho Public Television,” said Don Soltman, acting board president.
Morrill told Current the timing is right for the announcement: A state legislative committee is recommending a 9 percent hike in funding, station fundraising is solid and local content has received 53 national and regional awards this year.
“Public broadcasting has been part of my life since I was 18 years old,” Morrill said. “And this position is the longest job I’ve ever held.”
Morrill joined IdahoPTV in 1979 as a director/videographer and worked his way to producer/director and executive producer before taking over as g.m. in 1996. In addition, he spent time in production and management jobs at WBGU-TV in Bowling Green, Ohio, and WUFT-TV in Gainesville, Fla.
Morrill is a founding member and past chair of the Affinity Group Coalition, which represents public TV stations on policy issues. He also co-chaired the Organization of State Broadcast Executives.
He has served on the boards of the National Educational Telecommunications Association and the Idaho State Broadcasters Association, and on the advisory board of the University of Idaho School of Journalism and Mass Media. In 2012, he completed his second three-year term on the PBS Board.
His honors include the 2008 Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Northwest Chapter, recognizing outstanding service over more than 25 years of broadcasting.
The Idaho Board of Education will conduct a search for his replacement, which it hopes to announce by late summer. Morrill will stay on to assist in the transition.