"Cog," as he was affectionately known in the Bay Area community, appeared on Channel 7 News
At
5 PM with commentaries. He also presented station editorials on key issues for the Public
Affairs Department.
Cog traveled to Hong Kong and Beijing with two KGO-TV Asian producers to
present the remarkable changes taking place in mainland China as they opened their doors to
western influence and a preview of Hong Kong as it prepared for Communist rule in 1997. The
four-part documentary entitled "A Tale of Three Cities" aired the first week of September
1997.
A well-known and respected radio and TV personality, Coughlan began his broadcasting career
during the second World War as one of the original members of Armed Forces Radio. After serving
throughout the Pacific, Coughlan was discharged in 1945 and joined KROW Radio in Oakland as an
announcer (credited as "Coglin" in station advertising). He was General Manager of KROW when he left the station in 1957 to join KCBS Radio in San Francisco.
Coughlan joined KGO-TV in 1958 and became the station's General Sales Manager the following
year, a post he held until 1968. While rising to the position of Vice President and General
Manager of KGO-TV, he became a familiar face and voice to Bay Area residents as he hosted both
a KGO Radio talk show and a Sunday evening television program.
As KGO-TV's General Manager from
1971 to 1979, Coughlan strengthened KGO-TV's community involvement with strong editorials and
countless afternoon speeches. Cog's personal commitment to community service remains strong as
he currently makes over 100 personal appearances a year.
In May 1979, Coughlan was promoted to Vice President of the ABC Owned Television Stations in
New York, but the Big Apple couldn't hold him. He returned to his native San Francisco in December
1980 as on-air personality for KGO Radio and KGO-TV.
He was also the voice of "Dudley Nightshade" in the Crusader Rabbit cartoon series.
Russ Coughlan passed away on December 29, 1990, of a heart attack. He was 71 years old. He was
inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle in 1986 in recognition of his significant
achievements in television.
