Background
Benton was born in New York City in 1931, the son of William and Helen Benton.
chairman executive Chief Executive Officer
Benton was born in New York City in 1931, the son of William and Helen Benton.
Bachelor, Yale University, 1953. Postgraduate, Northwestern University. Postgraduate, National College Education.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Lincoln College, 1982. Doctor of Laws (honorary), John Marshall Law School, 1984.
Assistant in production, producer Encyclopedia British Films, Inc., 1953-1955, administrative assistant in market research, 1955-1958, administrative assistant for Films Inc. subsidiary, 1959-1960, Illinois district manager, 1960-1962, vice president marketing, 1962-1964, president, 1964-1966. Teacher Washington Elementary School, Evanston, Illinois, 1958-1959. President Encyclopedia British Educational Corporation, 1966-1967, Fund for Media Research, 1967-1969, Films Inc., 1968-1977.
Chairman Public Media Inc., since 1968, College Satellite Network, since 1985. Chairman Harris Films Ltd., United Kingdom, 1977-1982, White House Conference on Library and Information Services, 1978-1980. Commissioner National Commission on Library and Information Science, 1978-1985, chairman, 1978-1982.
Board directors Visual Education Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lecturer in field.
Member advisory board Heard Museum, since 1981, Democratic Policy Center, since 1986, Citizen's Exchange Council, since 1965, Action for Children's television, since 1974, Institute Modern Communication Northwestern University, since 1985. Member advisory board for education fund League of Women Voters Presidential Debates, 1976, 80, 84. Chairman advisory board Harriman Communications Center, since 1985.
President Benton Foundation, since 1980. Vice chairman Commission on Educational Communication Evanston Public Schools, 1966-1968. Commissioner Evanston Cable Commission, 1982-1985.
Board directors William Benton Foundation, 1965-1975, president board directors, 1975-1979. Chairman Chicago International Film Festival, 1974-1976. Board directors National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting, 1969-1979, president, 1972-1975.
Trustee American Federation Arts, 1969-1983, American Assembly, since 1965, National College Education, 1964-1970, Hampton Institute, 1965-1979, University Chicago, 1965-1984. Board directors Community Music Center North Shore, 1963-1968, Illinois Arts Council, 1965-1970, Center for Book Library of Congress, 1978-1982, Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, since 1964, American Film Institute, 1967-1971, Window To The World Chicago Educational television Associates, 1969-1979, Broadcasting Foundation American, 1966-1973, Benton Center for Curriculum and Instruction University Chicago, since 1985. Member of Arts, International (Chicago).
River (New York City).
Married Marjorie Craig, 1953. Children: Adrienne, Craig, Scott.