MY WORLD IN BROADCASTING

television

THE EARLY YEARS

Television has been quite a journey for me. Frankly I never expected in to be in the business. I thought I was headed to law school but somewhere I got off track…or on track depending on how you look at it. I graduated from Tyee High School in Seattle where I served as student body president. Following graduation I attended the University of Washington majoring in Communications and speech. While still in college I hosted “Action Inner City” one of the first programs in Seattle history dedicated to the need and interests of minorities. I also received an outstanding minority student award and the Samuel Kelly Award for outstanding community Service and graduated in 1977.

CLIMBING THE LADDER

I went to work for KOMO TV (ABC) in Seattle as a writer and subsequently was appointed to a reporter position.   In the mid 80’s I changed directions and became the stations lead weather forecaster after going back to the University of Washington to receive specialized training in atmospheric sciences from renowned professor Clifford Mass. Surprisingly I found myself as one of the pioneering major market African American weathercasters in the country. I was featured in Ebony magazine much to the delight of my mother and father who still weren’t quite sure about the whole television thing.  “Is that a real job?”

MOre

NEW HORIZONS

In the 90’s I began hosted the program Front Runners, a Saturday evening magazine show, which was soon syndicated in markets around the U.S. and the world. Front Runners ended its run in the early 90’s after becoming one of the most awarded programs in Seattle television history with nearly 100 Emmy’s. Over my many years of broadcasting my awards include: Seven Emmy Awards and several additional nominations, a Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalism award, New York International Film Festival Gold and Bronze Medals, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences American Scene Award, 2 “Telly” Awards, an Academy of Religious Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award, and I was also part of the news team that was the 2001 and 2004 winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award as the best newscast in America. In 2004 I was inducted into the University of Washington Communications Hall of Fame.

GOING NATIONAL & LOCAL

I had only been doing the weather in Seattle for about a year when my agent called with an in interesting offer. The folks at Good morning America in new york wanted to know how I felt about coming in to fill in when their regular weather person went on vacation. To say I was stunned is an understatement. My Answer? Not just yes but hell yah! So off I went..

COMMUNITIY