Don Durgin, 79; Former President of NBC Television

Don Durgin, 79, a former president of NBC Television, died Friday at a New York City hospital of what was believed to be a brain aneurysm, according to his wife, Catherine Meacham Durgin.

Born in Chicago, Durgin earned a bachelor’s degree at Princeton University and a law degree at New York University. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II, and went to work for the advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding after the war.

His career with the networks started in 1949 with a post in advertising and promotion at NBC. He moved on to ABC, where he spent much of the 1950s.

Durgin returned to NBC in 1957 as vice president in charge of sales for the network. He was named president of NBC Television in 1965 and executive vice president of the network in 1973.

During his tenure, the network expanded its programming of original dramas, news and cultural specials and variety shows.

After leaving NBC in 1975, Durgin returned to advertising as president of McCaffrey & McCall and later executive vice president of Dun & Bradstreet. He later worked as vice chairman of Newsweek magazine before retiring in 2001.