Robert McAllaster Caten

Cablevision (CATV) was in its infancy in 1959 when Robert M. Caten built a Community Antenna TV Cable System in Gouverneur, New York.

In 1968 Mr. Caten purchased the cable system in Napoleon, Ohio, which had been owned by a New Jersey Cor poration. He became the first single owner of the Maumee Cable TV in Napoleon, which maintained its first office in Hahn's Clothing Store, corner of West Washington and North Perry Streets. The office was later moved to the building owned by Nat J. Belknap, 606 North Perry St.

At the time of purchase Maumee TV Cable was known as Direct Channels, and the list of customers was small. Due to good management the business grew, and in 1971 when Maumee Cable TV was sold to Tower Communications the growth was substantial.

Robert McAllaster Caten was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y. October 18, 1916, son of Adelaide M. and W. Leonard Caten, Jr. He attended schools in Gouverneur, graduating from high school in 1933. He attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, graduating in 1937 with a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Caten's grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. William L. Caten lived in Dayton, Ohio and in 1904 William Ca- ten founded the Speedwell Motor Car Company. William L. Caten's sister, Eva Adele Caten married Frederic Remington the famous artist and sculptor.

In 1967 Robert Caten married Dorothy Calcagno Kuhn, and there are three sons; Robert McAllaster Caten, Jr. A graduate of Ohio University; Brother A. Andrew Kuhn, O.F.M. Cap. (a member of the Capuchin Order), and Michael V. Kuhn, a graduate of St. John's University, New York. The Catens have lived at 260 Orchard Lane for the past 10 years.

Mr. Caten was instrumental in building the Putnam TV Cable System in Ottawa in 1970, the Tiffin Valley System in Archbold in 1972, and the Community Cable TV System in Delta in 1976. He served as president of these corporations.

Mr. Caten was a member of the Elks Lodge #929, and a former member of the Napoleon Rotary Club and the Napoleon Chamber of Commerce.

Dorothy A. Caten was born in Washington, D.C. daughter of Vincent and Emily S. Calcagno. She graduated from Mary A. Burnham School, Northampton, Mass. (now StoneleighBurnham, Greenfield, Mass.), and Beaver College, Glenside, Penna. She is a former member of the Browsers Literary Society, and is a member of the Heller Memorial Hospital Grey Ladies. The Catens are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

Robert Caten died at the Heller Memorial Hospital on Jan. 17, 1978. At the time of his death, he was the second oldest living juvenile diabetic in country. He was awarded a 50 year medal of the Joslin Diabetes Foundation, Boston, Mass. in 1975.