From Station Ownership To Broadcast Towers, Tom Stoner Made His Mark

Updated at 2:15pm Eastern

As Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink first reported Wednesday morning (10/15), Thomas Hamilton Stoner — the Des Moines native who would create the former Stoner Broadcasting and had been residing in picturesque Annapolis, Md., in recent years, has died.

Tom Stoner was 88 years old and passed away of pulmonary fibrosis on October 19. In addition to his ownership of radio stations, Mr. Stoner played a key role in the creation of American Radio Systems and, later, American Tower Corp. 

He also unsuccessfully sought the U.S. Senate seat held by Charles Grassley.