Pitt-Produced Documentary "K. Leroy Irvis: The Lion of Pennsylvania" Airing on WQED's The Neighborhood Channel

PITTSBURGH-"K. Leroy Irvis: The Lion of Pennsylvania," a University of Pittsburgh-produced documentary about the life of the late K. Leroy Irvis, a former Pennsylvania Speaker of the House and a 1954 Pitt law graduate, began airing this weekend as part of "WQED Presents," programming that celebrates Black History Month.

The film is narrated by Julian Bond and contains vintage photos, video clips, and anecdotes about Irvis from friends, family members, and historians.

Chris Moore, a producer and host at WQED Multimedia, introduces the documentary. At its conclusion, Moore introduces three panelists, who provide commentary on Irvis and the documentary. Panelists are Cathryn L. Irvis, K. Leroy Irvis' widow and founder of KLI production that conceived the documentary; Laurence Glasco, Pitt associate professor of history who provides on-screen commentary in the documentary; and Robert Hill, Pitt vice chancellor for public affairs and executive producer of the film. The next airing will be this evening at 9 p.m. on The Neighborhood Channel, WQED (digital); it will repeat in a rotation every seven hours, until the end of the month. (In Pittsburgh, Comcast digital viewers can access the Neighborhood Channel at 201. Other viewers should contact their local cable company or satellite provider for information on how to access the Neighborhood Channel.)

WQED Pittsburgh, honored with the 2007 and 2006 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Station Excellence and 12 other Emmy Awards, was founded in 1954 as the nation's first community-supported broadcaster. WQED creates, produces, and distributes quality programs, products, and services to engage, inform, educate, and entertain the public within its community and around the world.

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2/18/08/tmw