Eva Parnell Superior Achievement
Award
____________
September, 1959. During our first week, probably a Sunday afternoon, at North Hall and CCM:
Morris Cochran, Whorley Rhodehaver, Barry Hobart, Tom Delong, Don Philips and myself, were wondering just what we had gotten
ourselves into and didn’t have a clue what radio and television careers really meant.
Up walked this tall guy and introduced himself as David Silvian, an upper classman. He may have
been part of a welcoming committee, or not, but he seemed interested in us and willing to talk about and answer questions
on what we can expect. It was very nice of him and he talked, among other things, television, and in particular WCET, where
we would have an opportunity to work. He painted a very good picture and it did seem exciting and for the first time we were
getting some real world views.
David suggested we continue our conversation at a bowling alley, which we did, and there is
where we got our first lesson from David. While we all worked hard to keep the ball in the alley, Dave was clicking off a
score of around 200 for each of the games.
I later realized that David’s excellence wasn’t just in bowling championship scores
…
By the time the first year was over, most of us were working at WCET-TV. David was the
Camera Control Engineer and he would disappear into the bottom of the control room and labor to bring the two black ‘n
white cameras to life for whatever video taping was scheduled. Not an easy job.
Over the next four years I worked often as part of the crew for the many in-school and Airborne
television programs that David directed. Working with David was one of the real, exceptional learning experiences in television.
Dave was good. He was constantly teaching. He was a leader and in control and knew how to get what he wanted. His work practices
and dedication to getting it right was an important model for me, personally, and I’m sure others here tonight. More
than once I can remember David yelling…..or perhaps talking loudly…..in our headsets: McIntosh you can’t
dolly on a 135, now stay in focus.
As I read through David’s history, it was not a surprise that his career was rich
in television production and direction and ….Academic, as instructor and associate professor positions at University
of Georgia and Loyola University in New Orleans.
His career as Producer and Executive Producer saw him at, at least five Television stations
including WQED-TV, a station I’ve always admired, in Pittsburgh, famous for a lot of outstanding PBS programs over the
years among them being Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
In David’s career as Producer and Director the list of his accomplishments is so outstanding
and so long that it would take 15 minutes, or more, just to read them.
Here are some of the highlights:
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Managed 4 TV studios for commercial and non commercial programming
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Designed and implemented 3 Television studios
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As associate professor at Loyola University in New Orleans he redesigned the curriculum for
broadcasting and developed new courses in creativity
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Was the Executive Producer or produced and directed well over 1500 Educational, commercial and
entertainment programs (recorded and live) Plus, over 500 Music productions on stage and in studio
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Produced and directed the network music series “Something to Sing About with John Denver.
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Produced and/or directed over 1200 television programs and commercials for local and national
cable distribution.
-
Many of these programs received local, regional or national awards.
I found this item in the Campus Newsletter from January 22, 2002: “David Silvian, producer/director
at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education’s television services department, presented a video at the 14th
biennial conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children in Barcelona, Spain. The video was produced by David
and written by his wife, Alice.”
It seems our David has done it all, but wait…
Historically the year 1980 was an important year for Directors.
-
Robert Redford won the Oscar for directing Ordinary People
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Robert Benton won the Golden Globe for directing Kramer vs Kramer
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Robert Young, won a Directors award for directing a segment of the Lou Grant Show
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Harold Prince won a Tony Award for directing Evita on Broadway
David
Silvian, of course.
In addition to those awards in 1980, in the years 1990-2003, David won 5-Telly Awards, 2 New
York Film Festival Awards, 3 Ohio State Awards plus 150 other Awards, but who is counting…
David retired from full-time at the University of Georgia in 2004 and then went on to
complete a 50 year video history of the Georgia Center which took five years … plus he managed to do six major productions
for United Way, and others, after retirement.
Winning awards is usually not the reason we do our best. It’s a nice by-product
and good for the ego, maybe contribute financially, but when you are an artist and leader you don’t always know it’s
your best, it’s just what you do. David’s creative history and acknowledged recognition throughout his career
is witness and testimony to excellence.
While in College David was one of the “guys you remember” because he was so good
at what he did and was always willing to take the time to teach and make the television experience rewarding.
As we age, and reflect on roads taken, I believe our lives are blessed with the people
who cross our paths and those in particular who leave with us a part of themselves. On that day 50 years ago David Silvian
walked up to 6 guys who didn’t have a clue and left part of himself….
For me, it is truly an honor and privilege to present the EVA PARNELL SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD FOR BROADCAST EXCELLENCE to the
mentor to many … to the pride of Bogart, Georgia …. to the 1st inductee into the
White Castle Hall of Fame and the only CCM graduate who can say that … and to our friend for his lifetime of achievements
in all aspects of media production, graphics, photography, promotion, public relations and radio….
The man of the hour - DAVID ALLEN SILVIAN…….
______________
Presented on Saturday, June 5, 2010,
at the Garfield Suites Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio
______________________
David,
It was my pleasure to make this
presentation.
Congratulations and thank you
for your example.
A lifelong fan,
Lynn McIntosh
