James H. McBath; Hosted TV Debates
James H. McBath, professor of communication arts and sciences at USC and former moderator of a nationally televised debate program, has died at 69.
He died Thursday( of a heart attack, which occurred shortly after he lectured students on argumentation theory, a USC spokesmen said.
Hired by USC in 1956 as director of the Trojan Debate Squad, McBath was moderator of a weekly NBC series during the 1960s called “Championship Debate.”
He was former president of the American Forensics Assn. and editor of its journal, and former president of the Western Speech Communication Assn. and the Assn. for Communication Administration. He received the distinguished service award from the Western Speech group in 1991.
At USC, McBath was former chairman of the Communication Arts and Sciences Department and former president of the Faculty Senate.
In Pasadena, he had served as president of the school board.
Survivors include his three children, Douglas, Margo and Janet.
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