Remembering When...A Look Back at 50 Years.

It's hard to believe that 5 years ago today, I said goodbye to my broadcasting career.  It began in February of 1971 when Roy Leep gave me an opportunity on WTVT-TV  Ch. 13 in Tampa.  No computers back then, just paper maps covered with plexiglass and felt tip grease pens.

My stay in Tampa lasted 2 1/2 years before moving on to WDTN-TV2 in Dayton, Ohio.  The bottom picture has me with the late Art Brown, Kris Long and the late Omar Williams.  I stayed in Dayton 5 years before arriving in New Orleans on April 3, 1978.   My first anchor team here was the late Alec Gifford & Buddy Diliberto.

I was only 30 years old while Buddy & Alec were 50.   I was the "Kid" working with two New Orleans legends.  No I was not next to Tony Randall.  His image was added through trick photography!

After Alec & Buddy left for Ch. 6 in 1980, one of my favorite anchor teams included World Series hero Ron Swoboda, Lynn Gansar & Richard Anderson.  Not many people watched us back then as Ch. 4 dominated the ratings.   A memorable moment occurred in 1980 when John Coleman, founder of The Weather Channel and my long time mentor from Chicago, filled in for me while I took time off for my youngest son's (Justin) birth.   The bottom view was another special moment, a guess appearance in 1983 on All My Children with me bringing the telephone to Susan Lucci. Gosh was she beautiful!!!  But there's more as Lee Zurik would say!

My longest anchor team was with John Snell and the late Nancy Parker. They made FOX 8 respectable & competitive with Lee Zurik & Kim Holden finally making the FOX 8 News team the market's most watched TV News just as I retired, and they still are!  And what a sendoff it was as Ch. 8 celebrated my 38 years with them for a whole month.  Another special moment was being the Grand Marshal for the Krewe of Argus parade in 2016.  Truly a wonderful way to earn a living and it was all because of you, my viewers.  Thanks to all!

I won't spend much time with the weather since today is in the dumper (or dumpster for those of you in Ohio!).  A cold front has stalled along our coast with low pressure triggering a cold rain shield.  Fortunately that will be gone by tomorrow and sunshine will return making for a beautiful Wednesday & Thursday.

Note temperatures are 8-12 degrees warmer back in the sunshine to our west.   If you're dressed for it. the next 2-3 days will be great.

There is a strong storm off of California that will bring back some showers late Friday into Saturday, but most of the weekend looks to be nice.   We have to get through today before things get better.  Hang in there Gang & stay tuned!