Barbara York reminds me of one of my all-time favorite actresses, the late Geraldine Page. Though probably better known as a Broadway actress, she enriched a number of movies as well. She was first nominated for an Oscar back in 1953 as supporting actress in the film "Hondo," a marvelous little Western. But she didn't win. She was nominated again for supporting actress in 1966 ("You're a Big Boy Now"), in 1972 ("Pete 'n' Tillie") and in 1984 ("The Pope of Greenwich Village").

Then, in 1985, 32 years after she was first nominated for an Academy Award, she won. But it wasn't for supporting actress, it was for actress in a leading role for "The Trip to Bountiful."

The Academy had finally given her the biggest of honors for being what she really was: a star.

And so it is with Barbara York. Barbara has been with NCTA going on 26 years. For all of that time, she's been, as Brian Roberts and others say in these pages, cable's "unsung hero."

We are so proud to honor her today for what this most unassuming manager really is: a true star of the cable industry and TelevisionWeek's 2007 Cable TV Executive of the Year.

And a big thank you to everyone who has joined with us today to congratulate Barbara on receiving this honor, and, at least as of this writing, for keeping it a surprise.