The Arkansas Educational Television Network Commission will dedicate the AETN atrium to late director Allen Weatherly in a ceremony and reception at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the network headquarters, 350 South Donaghey Ave., Conway.

“Allen was a champion of education, entertainment and learning through public media for more than 30 years,” said AETN Commission Chair Annette Herrington. “He led the network for 16 years and was a respected leader, colleague and friend.

“Public media has lost one of its greatest advocates, and we hope that this dedication will help his memory live on.”

The dedication will include remarks by former Sen. David Pryor and a message from PBS President Paula Kerger. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served.

With a special interest in the importance of history, culture and heritage, Weatherly worked to provide more useful services to the people of Arkansas. During his tenure, the network increased education services to the state, including online professional development for educators; helped produce programming and training for the network’s Ready To Learn service; archived testimonies from Arkansas World War II veterans in the innovative outreach project “In Their Words;” won multiple awards for local productions; was honored by the American Psychological Association as one of the five best places to work in the United States; and received the Arkansas Governor’s Work-Life Balance Award for three consecutive years.

Weatherly was dedicated to impacting learning and student achievement in Arkansas, both through trusted PBS programs and educational outreach. He often referenced his hero, Mister Fred Rogers, who said, “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” This statement is a testament to Weatherly’s character and heart.

In 2008, Weatherly was selected as Arkansas Citizen of the Year by Scottish Rite in Little Rock. In 2010, he was elected in a nationwide vote to a second three-year term as a member of the board of directors for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). In addition to service on the board at large, he was a member of the PBS Board Executive Committee and chairman of the

PBS Station Services Committee. He also served as professional vice-chair of the PBS Board.

He served on two Community Service Grant review panels for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and also held leadership positions with the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) and the Organization of State Broadcast Executives (OSBE).

Prior to joining AETN, Weatherly worked with Ozarks Public Television in Springfield, Mo., from 1980 to 1993, progressing from a development associate to director of broadcasting.