Cy Bahakel was a North Carolina state senator and a media magnate.
11 Facts About Cy Bahakel
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2.
Cy Bahakel's son-in-law is former US Representative Robert Pittenger.
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Cy Bahakel was born to a poor Lebanese family in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12,1919.
4.
Cy Bahakel helped pay his way through University of Alabama School of Law by doing sports play-by-play and other announcing duties at Tuscaloosa's WJRD radio, a sideline that made him question his goals to become a lawyer.
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Cy Bahakel practiced law for six months, but the lure of the microphone was too strong.
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Cy Bahakel went on to build radio stations from scratch in Greenwood, Mississippi, Kingsport, Tennessee, and Roanoke, Virginia.
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Cy Bahakel later acquired stations in Charlotte, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, and Montgomery, Alabama.
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Cy Bahakel was instrumental in bringing the Charlotte Hornets National Basketball Association franchise to Charlotte in 1987.
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Cy Bahakel was a primary investor in the team and was the guarantor of the $32 million loan for the franchise fee to bring the team to Charlotte.
10.
Cy Bahakel died at his home in Charlotte on April 20,2006, at the age of 87.
11.
Cy Bahakel is survived by his wife, six children, and five grandchildren.