Radio was his first love, but Beasley Broadcast group founder and CEO George Beasley, 72, worked as a teacher and high school principal before buying his first station in North Carolina in 1961. Today the man named one of the 40 Most Powerful People in Radio heads a Naples-based publicly traded company with $115 million in annual revenues and 41 stations in 10 markets.

Place of birth: Patrick County, Va.

Guiding principle: There's no end to what you can accomplish as long as you don't mind who gets the credit.

Greatest achievement: Ann, my wife of 50 years, and a wonderful family, most of whom I have been privileged to work alongside daily.

Heroes: Ronald Reagan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joe DiMaggio and Michael Jordan.

Most notable characteristic: Love for family, for work, for God, for the privilege of living in America.

Most-admired traits: Unselfishness and compassion.

People might be surprised to learn: The deepness of my desire to see that all members of our society have an opportunity for a college education. Opportunity is the key word.

What the Gulfshore needs: To elect public officials with impeccable character and agendas focused on making life better for people here.