SALEM MEDIA GROUP co-founder STUART EPPERSON has passed away at the age of 86.STUART, along with brother-in-law EDWARD ATSINGER, founded SALEM COMMUNICATIONS in 1986 and expanded its influence with CHRISTIAN and politically conservative News-Talk-formatted radio stations. EPPERSON was a longtime leader in CHRISTIAN radio as a former member of the board of the NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERSX ASSOCIATION. In 2005, TIME MAGAZINE named him one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the .