Kenneth Reed Dyke (1897 - 1980)

Born 12 Mar 1897 in New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Ruth Valerie (Edmonds) Dyke — married 5 Nov 1948 in New York City, New York, United States

Died 17 Jan 1980 at age 82 in New York, United States

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Biography

Ken R. Dyke was an advertising executive, as well as a Brigadier General, overseeing the transformation of Japan's media after the conclusion of World War II.^[1]

Kenneth was born in 1897, the son of James H. Dyke and Laura Reed. ^[2]

He married Ruth Valerie Edmonds Young on 5 November 1948.^[3] They were the parents of one child, a son.

Ken passed away in 1980. ^[4]

Obituary:^[5]

Retired General Dyke Dies of Emphysema

"Retired Brg. Gen. Kenneth Reed Dyke, the man who helped shape much of Japan's post-war education and communication system, died Thursday. He was 82. "

"Dyke chief of Civilian Information and Education Section under General Douglas MacArthur's regime in post-war Japan, died of emphysema at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home."

"A former advertising executive, Dyke helped guide Japan's education and communication systems away from rigid militaristic ideas. He helped diversify the country's post-war broadcast and print media that for years was almost exclusively a tool of military propaganda. Dyke ordered all test-books with militaristic insights reduced to pulp to print new books with more liberal ideas. He also pressed for allowing all forms of opinions on radio and the press."

"Dyke, born in New York, and was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. During the First World War, he fought in France and was appointed to the special post in MacArthur's government in 1945."

"In between the world wards he was an executive in the promotion departments of Johns-Manville Corp., Colgate-Palmolive co., and the National Broadcasting Co. After World War II, he returned to NBC as vice president in charge of programs and later joined Young and Rubicam International Inc., where he stayed until his retirement."

Ken R. Dyke Awards by Date of Action, can be found here.

Sources

1. ↑ He became a Brigadier General 26 October 1945.
2. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W3M-9KF : 11 February 2018), Kenneth Reed Dike, 12 Mar 1897; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 11869 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,350.
3. ↑ Marriage: From The Billboard, November 20, 1948, page 53.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92218488/kenneth-reed-dyke : accessed 22 June 2022), memorial page for Gen Kenneth Reed Dyke (12 Mar 1897–17 Jan 1980), Find a Grave Memorial ID 92218488, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by John Evans (contributor 47071981) .
5. ↑ Obituary: Nashua Telegraph Newspaper, 18 Jan 1980.