Ernest (Ernie) Jackson Jr., one of the pioneers of the historic Black radio movement in America and an award‐winning amateur photographer, recently made his heavenly transition.

Born on January 18, 1943 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Rosie Mae Jackson and Ernest Jackson Sr., Ernie grew up a small town in the heart of Finger Lakes in upstate New York with his sister Norma Jean, brother Patrick and Ernie. Their home was in a unique setting that inspired his love affair with nature, photography and parks. As the only Black students in an all‐white school in Ovid, New York, Ernie and his siblings were confronted with the hostilities of social injustice very early. That is what planted the seed of “revolutionary change” in his heart. He graduated from Ovid Central High School and worked as an attendant at the oldest hospital for the mentally insane in the country, Willard State Hospital, which made him keenly aware of the need for improvement in the quality health care industry. He enrolled in Corning Community College School of Nursing, receiving his Associate of Arts & Science degree in 1968 and was trained as a surgical nurse. Armed with his first degree from academia, his next career endeavor was as the Activities Coordinator at Corning Community College and later as the Assistant to the Dean at Alfred State University.

Ernie arrived at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1971 subsequently becoming its Director of Student Activities. He and his staff were responsible for all activities associated with the three student unions at Cornell. It was in Ithaca when his life made a 180 degree turn both personally and professionally. While at Cornell, Ernie met his soulmate, Willda Shaw, when he hired her to join his staff in 1972. Their “providential meeting” became the beginning of their love story and they married in 1975. Ten years later, their son Matthew was born in 1985. He also has four sons from a previous marriage, Terry, Scott, Mark & Blake Jackson.

Because of his passion for learning, Ernie continued to pursue his undergraduate degree in Radio & Television Broadcasting and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Ithaca College in 1976. Balancing his family, education and work demands.

Professionally, his broadcasting career was launched at Cornell when a group of communications students asked him to host a Rhythm & Blues show at local radio station, WTKO‐AM; his on‐air name became “E. J. Smoke”. This opportunity began his life‐long commitment to community service in the broadcasting corporate arena and a lifetime of utilizing his skills, talent and education on enduring that the air waves were utilized for the benefit of the communities they were licensed to serve. Shortly afterwards, he joined the sales team at WTKO and was quickly promoted to Sales Manager and subsequently to Vice President & General Manager.

In 1977, he received a call from a headhunter which landed him his next job at WERE AM radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Less than two years later, he and Willda packed their bags and headed to Charleston, South Carolina to help build two additional radio stations, WQIZ AM & FM. In 1983, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Ernie became the Vice President & General Manager of the oldest Black radio station in the U.S., WDIA‐AM. From Memphis, the family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he rebuilt WOMI FM, another urban contemporary radio station.

As Ernie’s trailblazing journey in the broadcasting arena continued, his reputation was established nationally and he collaborated and enhanced broadcast opportunities for others during his career. In 1993, a call from a colleague would bring him back to his home state of Texas. He became Vice‐President & General Manager at KMJQ & KBXX FM (Majic 102 and 90. 9 FM the Boxx). As a result of Ernie’s commitment to the community which was far reaching, both stations became a valuable resource as “Houston’s Community Stations’ while disseminating much needed information and promoting events and activities for the African American community within the greater Houston area. After his retirement, these two Houston‐based radio stations were named the “Top Urban Contemporary Radio Stations in America”, and Ernie was bestowed the distinguished honor of being named one of the “Top Ten Radio General Managers in America” by Radio Ink magazine.

After his initial retirement in 2001 from the radio industry, Ernie embarked upon another thirteen‐year career expanding his passion for community service. In 2002, he founded “Project W.A.V.E.” a non profit organization helping to educate and fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America. On “National HIV Testing Day” in 2003, Project W.A.V.E. tested over 6,000 people at 249 different locations using 23 local media partners. The organization would break records and test over 85,000 people during its eight years in existence. Ernie also used his network to support a consortium of pharmaceutical companies known as “Together R.X. Access”, offering uninsured families a free prescription savings card. Project W.A.V.E., in partnership with Together R.X. Access, enrolled over 250,000 uninsured families in the prescription savings card program from 2004 through 2008. In 2014, he was hired as General Manager at KPVU‐FM, Prairie View A&M University’s public radio station. In 2015, he resigned from his position and dedicated the rest of his life to his family and his love for photography, traveling across America and around the world capturing the beauty of nature with his Nikon camera.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Rosie and Ernest Jackson, Sr.; his older sister Alma; and both his paternal and maternal grandparents. He made his transition on April 30, 2021. He leaves to cherish his memory, the love of his life, his wife Willda Shaw Jackson; his devoted siblings, his brother and sister, Patrick Jackson and Norma Jean Cain; his beloved sons: Terry, Scott, Mark, Blake and Matthew; his five grandchildren Natasha, Kyle, Erika, Pierce & Nolan; and numerous nieces, nephews, special friends and colleagues. Ernie will truly be missed by many but his legacy will live on!