Julian Sinclair Smith (1920–1993) was an American electrical engineer and television executive who founded the Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major American telecommunications and broadcasting company. He earned his electrical engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1952 and started his career by forming a broadcast trade school and later applying for FM and UHF radio and television licenses. His initial venture began with FM radio station WFMM-FM in Baltimore, launched in 1960, followed by the establishment of WBFF- TV in Baltimore in 1971, one of the first UHF television stations. Eventually, this built the foundation for Sinclair Broadcast Group, which was named and incorporated by his family in 1986. Julian, along with his wife Carolyn and their sons, were central in the development and expansion of the company. Julian passed away in 1993 after suffering from Parkinson's disease. Today, Sinclair Broadcast Group is a large and influential media company with numerous local TV stations across the United States, reaching over 26% of U.S. households. His sons, especially David Smith, took over leadership roles and expanded the company significantly, making it a prominent player in U.S. broadcasting and media.
