Stroud, Joseph

Joseph Stroud, an Oak Brook resident, is the president and founder of the Jovon Broadcasting Corporation and the president of Telephone USA Investments, Inc. The Jovon Broadcasting Corporation is a Tinley Park-based firm that operates WJYS-TV, the only African-American-owned television station in the Chicago area. WJYS-TV's programming includes religious shows and infomercials. Telephone USA Investments is a telecommunications firm. In 2002, Stroud contributed nearly $1.6 million to Roland Burris's gubernatorial campaign. Stroud made two loans to Burris the first for $800,000, the second for $400,000. The other $400,000 that Stroud contributed to Burris were in-kind donations. Additionally, in 2006 Stroud's company Telephone USA, the same company that gave Burris $1.2 million in loans, provided former Governor Blagojevich with a $100,000 donation.

Joseph Stroud is a career patron of unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Roland Burris (D).

From 1993 to 2001, the Jovon Broadcasting Corporation contributed $286,170 to candidates for Illinois statewide constitutional and legislative office, 100% of which was contributed to Democrats.

Last revised June 2011.