Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 78

LONG BRANCH REPORTER AS BURY PARK PRESS THURSDAY, NOV. 3, 2005 ON CAMPUS University honors sisters with award I if' ZL mw J- And they went to Las Vegas to help university officials choose television and radio equipment for the university's Jules L. Plangere Jr. Center for Communication and Instructional Technology, Monty said. In addition to their role at the university, they have given their time, fund-raising abilities and assistance in designing parts of the curriculum at the Community YMCA's Children's Cultural Center, which is on Monmouth Street in Red Bank.

"We just like giving back," Monty said. "We enjoy sharing our knowledge and experience with others." The sisters grew up in the West Allenhurst section of Ocean Township and moved to Rumson in 1993, Mofity said. The sisters are quick to speak of each other's accomplishments. "Gloria is a celebrity," Monty said. "She turned around the face of daytime (TV)." By ALISON HERGET STAFF WRITER Rumson sisters Gloria Monty O'Byrne and Norma Monty have made history in more ways than one.

O'Byrne is considered by some TV historians to be the first female executive to work for ABC-TV. She was credited with bringing the daytime series "General Hospital" to WEST the top of the LONG BRANCH ratings after it wmmmmm was about to be canceled during the late 1970s. Monty worked as an assistant producer and later principal writer for "General Hospital" at the time her sister was its producer. She then became head of the 'English department at Middle-town High School North, a position she held for roughly 15 years. Gloria Monty O'Byrne and Norma Monty received the Monmouth University President's Vision Award.

Now, the sisters are recipients of the Monmouth University President's Vision Award, the school's highest honor, said Petra Ludwig, a spokeswoman for the university. The President's Vision Award, which was presented to the sisters "We just like giving back. We enjoy sharing cur knowledge and experience with others." Norma Monty, award recipient 'X1 ft tn 1 RELAX AT SEA VERGE Apartments on the Oceanfront Local Toll Free 1-866-324-8974 385 Ocean Boulevard Long Branch, NJ Studio $m-5 1 2''iielrodjii J'joiu $2diD "SliSS da, Eiinv, IMS Hut tfJJBUf'CwidiaojiJjis PrcKf mibjwt -to vhtrnge Oct. 12 during a ceremony at the West Long Branch campus, recognizes individuals, foundations, corporations or groups that have made substantial contributions toward furthering the ideals and progress of Monmouth University, Ludwig said. "We believe very strongly in the importance of education and the importance of communication," Monty said.

The sisters have served on the university's Communication Advisory Council since it aras formed in 1998. On it, they share their knowledge of the industry with faculty, among others. They also have made presentations to communications classes at the school. i f-.