Rick Karle
Rick Karle (born in Syracuse, New York) is a broadcaster who was the sports director for WBRC 6 from April 1989 to December 2018 and co-host for WVTM 13's Morning News until December 2023.
Karle was one of five children born to Dick and Diane Karle. He grew up in central New York and earned his bachelor of arts in journalism at the University Of New Hampshire. He began his career as a sports director for WNNE in Hanover, New Hampshire. He met his wife, Jill, at a disco there. They were married in 1984 and have two children, Noah and Mia.
After leaving New Hampshire, Karle worked as a sports anchor at WJXT Jacksonville, Florida before coming to Birmingham. During his career he has won a Edward R. Murrow National Award for reporting, six Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards, 23 regional Emmy awards and 60 Associated Press awards. He was named "Best Sports Anchor" by the Alabama Asssociated Press in 2009. He has participated in the selection boards for the Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall Of Fame, the Blue-Gray Hall Of Fame, and the Heisman Trophy.
Karle was diagnosed in 1987 with testicular cancer which was treated successfully with chemotherapy. He has served on the board of the American Cancer Society - Birmingham.
Karle left WBRC in December 2018. He joined Carla Wade on the anchor desk for WVTM's morning news broadcast the following year. In 2023 Karle was presented with the Mel Allen Media Award from the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Later that year he announced that he was leaving WVTM and planned to focus on building his "Rick Karle's Good News" brand through other media.
References
- Chapman, Beth (November 26, 2012) "'Happily ever after,' Rick and Jill Karle." Shelby County Reporter
- Beahm, Anna (October 30, 2018) "WBRC’s Rick Karle leaving the station in early December." The Birmingham News
- Gore, Leada (October 18, 2023) "Rick Karle, WVTM Channel 13 anchor, leaving station." AL.com
- Colurso, Mary & Ben Flanagan (December 8, 2023) "Rick Karle bids a fond farewell to TV viewers: ‘I plan on following my heart’." AL.com