Wendell Harris: Difference between revisions
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'''Wendell Harris''' (born c. [[1933]]; died [[June 5]], [[2012]]) was a radio and television news anchor. | '''Wendell Harris''' (born c. [[1933]] in Greenville, South Carolina; died [[June 5]], [[2012]]) was a radio and television news anchor. | ||
Harris began working in broadcasting as a student at the [[University of Alabama]] in [[1952]]. In [[1954]] he moved to [[Birmingham]] to work for [[WAPI-FM]]. He left to serve as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army's Signal Corps. | |||
In [[1960]] Harris moved to WAPI's television sibling, [[NBC 13]]. He stayed there for 21 years, working as a reporter, assignments editor, news anchor and, eventually, news director. In [[1977]] Harris stepped away from co-anchoring the nightly news and named [[Pam Huff]] as his successor. Two years later he hired 23-year-old [[James Spann]] to replace long-time weather reporter [[Rosemary Lucas]]. In the 1980s, Harris hired anchor [[Joe Langston]] and sportscaster [[Herb Winches]] away from [[WBRC 6]]. | |||
In [[1981]] Harris moved to Austin, Texas as vice president and general manager of KTBC-TV. Three years later he moved to Dallas to take the same roles with KDFW-TV. He retired in [[1993]] and moved back to Birmingham. | |||
Harris died in June [[2012]] after a long hospitalization for lung failure. He was survived by his wife, [[Alice Harris|Alice]], and daughters Leisha, Allison, and Shannon. After funeral services at [[Dawson Memorial Baptist Church]] he was buried at the [[Alabama National Cemetery]] in [[Montevallo]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* [http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=61130] | * Spann, James (June 5, 2012) "[http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=61130 We Lose A Legend]". ABC 33-40 Weather Blog | ||
* Carlton, Bob (June | * Carlton, Bob (June 6, 2012) "Birmingham broadcasters remember Wendell Harris as a television news pioneer." {{BN}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Wendell}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Wendell}} | ||
[[Category:1933 births]] | [[Category:1933 births]] | ||
[[Category:2012 deaths]] | [[Category:2012 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Alabama alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Radio personalities]] | |||
[[Category:US Army officers]] | |||
[[Category:TV journalists]] | |||
[[Category:WVTM personalities]] | |||
[[Category:Alabama National burials]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:59, 24 April 2023
Wendell Harris (born c. 1933 in Greenville, South Carolina; died June 5, 2012) was a radio and television news anchor.
Harris began working in broadcasting as a student at the University of Alabama in 1952. In 1954 he moved to Birmingham to work for WAPI-FM. He left to serve as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army's Signal Corps.
In 1960 Harris moved to WAPI's television sibling, NBC 13. He stayed there for 21 years, working as a reporter, assignments editor, news anchor and, eventually, news director. In 1977 Harris stepped away from co-anchoring the nightly news and named Pam Huff as his successor. Two years later he hired 23-year-old James Spann to replace long-time weather reporter Rosemary Lucas. In the 1980s, Harris hired anchor Joe Langston and sportscaster Herb Winches away from WBRC 6.
In 1981 Harris moved to Austin, Texas as vice president and general manager of KTBC-TV. Three years later he moved to Dallas to take the same roles with KDFW-TV. He retired in 1993 and moved back to Birmingham.
Harris died in June 2012 after a long hospitalization for lung failure. He was survived by his wife, Alice, and daughters Leisha, Allison, and Shannon. After funeral services at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church he was buried at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.
References
- Spann, James (June 5, 2012) "We Lose A Legend". ABC 33-40 Weather Blog
- Carlton, Bob (June 6, 2012) "Birmingham broadcasters remember Wendell Harris as a television news pioneer." The Birmingham News