Emilio Nicolas, Sr.

Emilio Nicolás Sr. (27 October 1930 – 12 October 2019) was a Mexican media executive credited with a major role in creating and developing Spanish-language television stations and networks in the United States. After beginning his career at KCOR-AM and KCOR-TV in San Antonio, TX, Nicolás later took over the struggling TV channel and renamed it KWEX-TV, embarking on a rapid expansion and development which led to the creation of the very first US satellite interconnected television network, which was destined to become Univision.

Life and career One of five children, Emilio Rafael Nicolás was born in the mining town of Ciudad Frontera, located in northern Mexico, in the state of Coahuila, on the 27th of October, 1930 to parents Constantino and Miriam Saide Nicolás. Previously they had lived in Palestine, in the city of Bethlehem. Initially his parents owned a dry goods store there which was open all day, every day. The family later moved to Rosita where they expanded to three stores on the same block; one selling food and the others clothing. Emilio and his family lived above the stores.

Nicolás and his father would spend many hours listening to radio broadcasts together and in particular news reports from the US concerning Allied advances during WW2. After primary school, Nicolás attended a Marist Catholic boarding school for boys in San Luis Potosi. As well as French, algebra and trigonometry, he also studied international history. His father urged him to learn English too, so after graduating from high school in 1948, Nicolás emigrated north of the border to pursue his studies. Nicolás' father wanted him to attend St. Mary's University in San Antonio when he was 18 years old, but his application was refused, in spite of his academic qualifications, because his English was deemed to be insufficient. The school suggested he delay his enrollment until his language skills had improved. In the meantime he attended a US high school in order to improve his level of English. Nicolás was assiduous and would scour dictionaries to compile vocabulary lists, translating them into English and memorizing them. Watching movies as often as possible was also a source of learning. Listening to the dialogues, he picked up more and more English slowly but surely. He was finally accepted at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, but on probation, because despite his best efforts, his English was not yet fluent enough.

In 1953 Nicolás married Irma Alicia Cortez, whom had been dating since they had met at the annual ball at St Mary's. Lacking a tuxedo, Nicolás had been obliged to resort to borrowing a friend's army uniform. Their encounter at the ball was the prelude to a lengthy courtship, and a new direction for Nicolás. They had three children; Emilio Jr., Miriam and Guillermo. They would remain married for 67 years until Nicolás' death in 2019. He quickly took on several roles, working as a cameraman, an advertising salesman, a news producer and a news director. Initially the station had only one camera. By day Nicolás oversaw the news department and by night he produced live programming. Occasionally he would deliver editorials that he had written concerning subjects such as immigration or education.

In the early days, about half of the programs on KCOR-TV were live variety and entertainment shows, featuring some of the best available talent from Mexico. Prerecorded programs and movies were brought in from Mexico.

In late 1961, despite spending heavily on live talent, revenue from advertising continued to be insufficient, and New York's financial institutions being reluctant to extend further credit, Cortez sold KCOR-TV to a group of five investors, including Nicolas and René Anselmo; Cortez's erstwhile partner Frank Fouce; XET's general manager Julian Kaufman, and Mexican entertainment mogul Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, owner of Mexico-based Telesistema Mexicano (forerunner of Televisa). Sadly, Fouce died soon afterwards so his son, Frank Fouce Jr. stepped into his shoes. The partners expanded the company into two separate entities: "SICC", which stands for "Spanish International Communications Corporation", a holding company for an entity which soon expanded to seven TV stations across the country (the maximum number that was allowed by law), in urban centers such as San Francisco, Phoenix, New York and Miami as well as a handful of low-power stations in such cities as Tucson, Arizona and Austin, Texas,

A tireless advocate for Latino rights and for the betterment of the Latino community as a whole, in 1975, Nicolas launched the Teleton Navideno, a holiday-season charity drive that was broadcast on television, the aim of which was to collect funds for the less fortunate in San Antonio, and one which continues to do so today.

Following concerns about FCC rules regarding foreign ownership of US media, the FCC and the U.S. Justice Department eventually encouraged a sale of the network between 1986 and 1987. Hallmark Cards was the highest bidder offering $301.5 million. The sale was orchestrated by Nicolas and after the deal was complete he stepped down. Hallmark Cards chairman at that time was Irvine Hockaday and he hosted a gala evening honoring Nicolas for his leadership over a 40 year career.

Once their two-year non-compete agreement with Hallmark was over, and after spending precious leisure time traveling with his family throughout France,

Acknowledgement has been bestowed on Nicolás for his far-reaching editorials on subjects impacting Hispanic communities in the United States. Aired on SIN, his editorials attracted national attention to issues such as immigration laws and racial discrimination. Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio, praised Nicolas for instigating two extremely important U.S. Congress conference meetings. The result of these was the withdrawal of an immigration reform bill which was considered detrimental to Latinos.

In "American Enterprise," a Smithsonian American History Museum exhibit, Nicolás' extensive contributions to American media are recognized. This display traces America's growth from a small, fledgling nation to a global economic powerhouse.

Death On October 12, 2019, Nicolás died at his residence in San Antonio aged 88.

The Texas Public Radio headquarters, located in the Alameda Theater in San Antonio (used by his grandfather for his radio and TV studios in the 40s and 50s) was named the Emilio and Irma Nicolas Media Center in honor of his parents because of his efforts