Register retires from Macon-based Register Communications

After 55 years with the family-owned business bearing his name, Lowell Register has retired from Register Communications.

“I’ve been gradually, I guess, working toward that,” Register said Wednesday. “I still have an office there. I’m still involved in our computer company that’s there, but I’m basically retired.”

Register said his daughter would be handling all events and the “Mix in the Morning” show.

“So she’s there, and my wife’s there, but I’m retired,” he said.

His retirement did not happen “on any particular date,” he said. “I’ve just gradually worked my way out of it. So during the last few days or weeks I’ve been less and less involved in it. I still go to the office almost every day. (But) I’m not doing anything with the WPGA side of it.”

Register said he still owns the company.

Last month The Telegraph reported that a Bibb County Superior Court judge had appointed a receiver -- someone to take possession, control and manage all the operations -- for Register Communications Inc., which owns TV and radio stations in Middle Georgia. The Macon-based operation includes WPGA-TV, Bounce-TV, Me-TV and several radio stations.

A receiver was appointed because Register Communications failed to pay about $7.5 million owed in loans, property taxes, and payroll taxes owed the Internal Revenue Service, according to court documents. The court appointed Gaurav Malhotra, a New York attorney as receiver.

Several delinquent bank loans were assumed in 2011 by Tucker-based Southernaire Music Co. -- which also held a past due loan. Southernaire later approached an investment firm, Candlewood Partners, to take over the loans.

In April, Glenn Pollack, managing director of Candlewood, said Green Bull Georgia Partners LLC, a single purpose entity, was set up by Candlewood to take over the loans and manage the affairs of Register Communications through the court-appointed receiver. He is also president and a manager of Green Bull Georgia Partners LLC.

An attempt to reach Pollack on Wednesday was unsuccessful.

Register said he saw Malhotra once shortly after the appointment but not since.

“I don’t have any knowledge who’s all down there running it other than I’m not the manager down there,” he said. “I don’t know there is anybody down there everyday running it.”

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this story. To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Register retires from Macon-based Register Communications ."