Dave Ward (reporter)

David Henry Ward (born May 6, 1939 in Huntsville, Texas) is a broadcast journalist in Houston, Texas. He was an anchor of the weekday 6:00 pm newscast on KTRK-TV's Eyewitness News in Houston, Texas for more than 50 years.[1] He joined KTRK-TV in 1966 as reporter and photographer and was promoted to his final position as weekday evening anchor in 1968, and is the longest running news anchor in American television, surpassing the late Hal Fishman in 2015.

David Henry Ward
Ward at the 2019 Texas Book Festival
Born
David Henry Ward

(1939-05-06) May 6, 1939
Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
OccupationTelevision Newscaster
Notable credit(s)
KTRK-TV Newscaster 1966–2017
Spouse(s)Laura Ward
ChildrenJonathan Ward, Chris Ward, Linda Ann Ward-Heatly, David Henry Ward, Jr.

Career

Ward began his career at KGKB radio while attending Tyler Junior College (class of 1960[2]). Three years later, he began working at WACO-FM as a staff announcer. Later in 1963, Ward became the first full-time reporter at KNUZ radio, located in Houston. In 1966, he was hired on the spot at KTRK-TV:[3]

...I met with the top people at the station, General Manager Willard Walbridge, Program Manager Howard Finch and News Director Ray Conaway at Le Que, a pool hall, where they went for lunch several days a week and to shoot some pool. I was hired then and there.

He was hired as an on the street reporter and photographer in November 1966 and in 1967 was assigned to anchor KTRK's 7am newscast and a year later, he was promoted to co-anchor of the weekday 6PM and 10PM weekday newscasts. In December 2014, Ward announced he was leaving the weeknight 10 pm broadcast, but would still continue to co-anchor the weekday 6 pm newscast with Gina Gaston. In June 2016, Ward was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest tenure of any news anchor in the world at the same station in the same market.[4] On August 4, 2016, Ward announced on the 6 pm news that he would be leaving KTRK at the end of the year.[5] However, because of open heart surgery he underwent in December, the managers at the station decided to let Ward stay at KTRK until 2017, where he anchored his final newscast on May 2.[6]

Ward, a personal friend of Marvin Zindler, helped Zindler obtain his position at Channel 13, by urging the station to hire him after Zindler had been fired from his job at the sheriff's department.[7]

In May 2019, Ward published his memoir, “Good Evening, Friends.” The title reflects the salutation he used to begin each newscast at KTRK.[8]

Positions and achievements

In addition to his television and radio career, he has played an active role in establishing Houston Crime Stoppers, currently serving as President of the local Easter Seals Society, and chairing the Public Affairs Advisory Board of the Houston Business Council.[1]

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References
  1. "Dave Ward". abc13.com. Archived from the original (Biography) on 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  2. "Alumni Awards Program". Tyler Junior College. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  3. Lynn, Ashby (October 6, 2006). ""Good evening, friends. I'm Dave Ward." - H Texas Online" (Biography). H Texas Online. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  4. http://abc13.com/news/dave-ward-nabs-guinness-world-record/1395170/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. http://abc13.com/news/dave-ward-announes-he-will-leave-abc13-in-december/1457110/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Gunter, Ford (2007-07-30). "Houston icon Marvin Zindler dies at 85" (News article). Houston Business Journal. Retrieved 2007-07-30. After Zindler was fired from his job with the sheriff's department, Ward urged the station to hire him.
  8. "Dave Ward to release memoir" (News article). Houston Chronicle. 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
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