Larry D. Unger, retiring president and CEO of Maryland Public Television, honored with APTS’s 2025 Pillar of Public Service Award

America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) presented the 2025 Pillar of Public Service Award to Larry D. Unger, president and CEO of Maryland Public Television (MPT), “for his remarkable work in education, public safety and community connections, in service to the people of Maryland.”

The Pillar of Public Service Award recognizes the contribution of an extraordinary leader and innovator in one or more of public television’s three essential public service missions: education, public safety and community connections, stat\es TV NewsCheck.

“Larry’s exceptional work at Maryland Public Television has raised the bar of service and innovation many times during his 28-year tenure,” said Kate Riley APTS president-CEO. “Larry and his talented team at Maryland Public Television have dramatically demonstrated the power of public television to deliver a broad range of essential local public services across the state of Maryland.

“Larry’s commitment to public service has been unwavering and essential to the success of the statewide network’s exceptional education services including Thinkport and the new Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education; the innovative creation of the Maryland State Ad Agency; the critical public safety role MPT plays in the state; and the enhancement of community connections through engaging events and landmark local programs that bring pride to all Marylanders such as State Circle, Maryland Farm & Harvest, Outdoors Maryland, Chesapeake Bay Week and Chesapeake Collectibles.

“We are all inspired by Larry’s dedication and passion for our public service missions and are immensely grateful for his decades of commitment to Maryland Public Television and our system. It is my great honor to present Larry D. Unger with the most well-deserved 2025 Pillar of Public Service Award.”

Unger is the fifth president in the more than 55-year history of MPT, a $37.9 million noncommercial broadcasting operation headquartered in Owings Mills, Md., and a state licensee member of PBS.

Unger first joined MPT in 1997, bringing to the organization nearly three decades’ experience in the local financial services community. After serving as the statewide broadcaster’s vice president of administration and finance, chief financial officer, and executive vice president and chief operating officer, he was named MPT’s president and CEO in July 2011.

In December 2024, Unger announced he will retire from the organization on June 30, 2025.

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