Arthur Abrel “Art” Lanham, 65, won his courageous ten month battle with lung cancer on May 2, 2018. Art graduated from the University of Tennessee and was an avid VOLS fan. He was an accomplished television executive with over twenty-five years as a general manager, sales director, senior management executive and former station owner. In his last role, he was hired by Luken Communications, LLC in early 2017 to serve as senior vice-president of Sales and Affiliate Relations. Art was responsible for management of Luken’s affiliate and advertising sales teams and development of key national accounts. Prior to joining Luken Communications, Art was the vice-president and general manager of WAAY-TV, an ABC affiliate in Huntsville. His time in Huntsville also included service as a board member to the Alabama Broadcasters Association and as senior director of development and member of the board for the Downtown Rescue Mission. Prior to that, he managed Media General’s JSA partner stations, WKPT-TV/WAPK-TV in Tri-Cities, TN, was the GM for Sinclair’s KMWB-TV in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, and was the GM for Quorum Broadcasting’s KARD-TV in Monroe, LA. He also was President/CEO and majority shareholder of White Knight Broadcasting, owner of KMSS-TV in Shreveport, LA. While at KMSS-TV, he was elected to the nine-member FOX Network Affiliate Board of Governors, where he served as an officer and representative for five years during the early development of the FOX Network, serving more than one hundred and fifty affiliated FOX stations and markets. While on the FOX Board he also served as chairman of the FOX Children’s Network Oversight Committee.
Art was an avid reader, enjoyed adding to his various collections, and was also an accomplished artist. His many years in television lead him to create numerous celebrity portraits, but his most treasured works of art were inspired by his incredible love for all things Disney.
His time in Huntsville also included, as Art said many times “meeting the love of his life,” Heather. They were married December 12, 2012 and although their time together on earth was cut much too short, Art and Heather made a lifetime of memories in those five wonderful years, many while traveling to over fifteen countries and several different states.
Services will be Sunday, May 6, 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Red Bay, AL with Bro. Bill Harper officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Site Cemetery, Red Bay, AL. Deaton Funeral Home, Red Bay, AL will be in charge of arrangements.
Art is survived by his wife – Heather Mitchell Lanham, Madison AL; son – Brandon Lanham (Olga), Minneapolis MN; daughter- Angela Lanham (Rob), Atlanta, GA, grandchildren – Cael Demaret and Noah, Bella and Bentley Lanham; brother – Oliver C. Lanham (Phyllis), Garner, NC; sister-in law – Dorothy Lanham, Lenoir City, TN; father & mother-in-law – Jimmy and Ann Mitchell, Cherokee AL; brother-in-law -Chase Mitchell (Caroline), Charleston SC and several nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver A. and Ruby Lanham and brothers, Don and Paul Lanham.
Pallbearers will be Bob Benton, Norven Goddard, Mike Carroll, Brandon Lanham, Matt Bolling and Tony Fasola.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 5, 6-9 p.m. at Deaton Funeral Home, Red Bay, AL and he will lie in state Sunday, May 6, 12-1 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Red Bay, AL.
