J D Williamson Establishes Scholarship to Posthumously Honor

Longtime WKBN Employee

J D Williamson II, former President and CEO of WKBN, has made a $100,000 gift to the YSU Foundation to establish a scholarship in memory of Doris Saloom for her dedicated service to WKBN and the Williamson family.

The Doris Saloom Memorial Scholarship will be annually awarded to a female enrolled in Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration, with a minimum 3.0 GPA required. While a preference for students from Mahoning County is encouraged, students from Trumbull or Columbiana County may also be considered. The selection is to be made by the scholarship committee of the YSU Foundation.

“Doris was a valuable member of the WKBN team,” said J D Williamson II. “She was an integral part of both the company and the Williamson Family Foundation. It is an honor to establish a scholarship in her name that recognizes her 43 years of dedication and hard work.”

Doris was a 1954 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School; she married her husband Emil in 1966. They were married for 59 years until she passed in 2025. Doris worked for two generations of the Williamson family for over 43 years as part of their radio and television business, rising to the position of Vice President of WKBN Corporation. She was intimately involved in all phases of the company, including the Williamson Family Foundation.

The Youngstown State University Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports student scholarships, student development, and career opportunities.