Kent Dana. Twitter.com/randy_cordova. He worked with our reporting staff on a daily basis, but also worked behind the scenes with the I-Team and with news managers on coverage of major events," his colleagues at ABC 33/40 wrote. 1:52 The heyday of the career of Kent Dana, the longtime Phoenix TV news anchor who died Tuesday, April 19, took place when local news anchors were celebrities. WATCH LIVE: 12 News (KPNX-TV) in Arizona. She was a constantly engaging presence, and not afraid to show her emotions. You dont work at it. Hundreds or even thousands of kids found a permanent home because of Kent Dana, Shumway said. Cody has worked as an anchor on the NBC affiliate's morning. When he started his variety show on Channel 5, we didnt have any money so our family had to go out and buy a TV so we could watch dad on Wednesday nights, Kent told an audience in 2018. This is where my mental healing begins and the best is yet to come!, 'It made us a stronger team':What TV journalists learned working from home. However, all the local news that affects Phoenix is available to watch anytime and anywhere. The restaurant owner pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting in court that she stole more than $1 million from actress Joumana Kidd, NBA star Jason Kidds ex-wife. We always came first in his life and that made a difference, he said. Runners-up include: Lin Sue Cooney, Tram Mai, Sean McLaughlin, Phil Allen, Tara Hitchcock, Deborah Pyburn, Linda Williams, Ken Coy, John Hook, Catherine Anaya and Troy Hayden. We often see them every night. With a crisp, military-style mustache and a pleasant demeanor (he could have been a kindly family physician),Thompson, who died in 2012, set a high standard for Arizona broadcasters. Its not easy being the spouse of an evening anchor and leaving the house at one in the afternoon or so every day and being gone all evening, Kent said in 2018. Bill Denney died in 2000, following a cancer surgery. She helped lead Channel 3 from last place to first at the time of her departure. As an anchor,Kirkpatrick went through a lot. The man did not seem made for hugs or chatter. He earned renown for breaking a news story about a meeting between former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in June 2016, at the height of the Hillary Clinton email controversy. After you check out these anchors who made an impact, vote for your favorite current TV news anchor in our poll at the bottom of the story. For that, we always will owe him a debt of gratitude. Please select a region to stay informed on the latest local news via news12.com. 12 News KPNX's news director at the time found out Leonard was living in the Valley and asked Leonard if he wanted to "unretire" for one newscast a day. We trust them. Kents Father, Joe Dana, laid the groundwork for Kents interest in broadcasting. His philosophy was the subject of the story, the people, should shine through. Ryan Cody has left 12 News in Phoenix, announcing his exit in a tweet that mentions professional toxicity and mental healing. KPNX's studio on Central Avenue. The ability to find a good story and to tell a good story. Stream 12 News original storytelling, local investigations and reporting on the biggest issues affecting Phoenix and the nation. He then demanded to read a statement. Kent wasnt particularly athletic and used to tell the story of the year he tried playing little league baseball. Veteran Alabama reporter and anchor Christopher Sign, who previously worked in Phoenix for more than a decade, was found dead by the local Hoover police Saturday morning, according to Hoover. Little Arizona Pageant at the historic Orpheum Theatre. That 12-year-old boy would grow up to be the most recognizable face in Phoenix television news history. On weekends, Kent and his friends participated in a rite of passage for Phoenix-area teens that lasted decades: cruising Central Avenue and hanging out at the Bobs Big Boy. Lew Ruggiero, an Emmy-winning journalist, was a 12 News reporter for nearly 27 years. ", A lottery ticket worth more than $350K was sold in Arizona. MORE AZCENTRAL ON SOCIAL:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest. For the series which was a partnership with Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) Dana profiled children in the foster system, bringing attention to their plight and to adoption in general. He was a butane dealer and radio announcer for KOY Radio. Around 10 years old he found his niche as an actor at the Phoenix Little Theatre in downtown Phoenix, now called the Phoenix Theatre Company. Those who worked with him echoed the sentiment that Dana was approachable and friendly. Oct 29. Diving into what doctors and experts say about supplements, from collagen to apple cider vinegar and fish oil. He developed an infection after breaking his hip in January, according to his son Joe, and his condition deteriorated after several weeks in the hospital. Dial 2-1-1 at any time to reach the free 2-1-1 Arizona information and referral service and connect with free resources available locally throughout the state. Hoover police received a call around 8a.m. of a person down, found Sign and pronounced him dead, according to Czeskleba. Mar 12. We all know that TV newsrooms are changing, he said to an audience in 2018. Maureen Kyle spoke with an expert on how to help teens. aPhoenix GazetteTV critic thoughtfully wondered in 1995. "What's bizarre to me is I'll be out in public and I'll need to shave, I'll have a horrible shirt on, I'll look awful, and someone will say, 'I know that guy.' "We have lost a revered colleague whose indelible imprint will serve forever as a hallmark of decency, honesty, and journalist integrity. #. Theres a reason he was the most beloved anchor of his time, Lin Sue Flood, who worked with Dana at 12 News, said. "In TV you have a tendency to be a distraction in the way you tell a story. Some anchors have runs that just go on and on. The latest in the NBA from the Wizards getting the win in Atlanta to Bucks beating the Nets in Jersey. We are grateful for Ryans contributions to Team 12 and wish him all the best.". PHOENIX A helicopter accident over Central Phoenix 13 years ago Monday claimed the lives of four television journalists in Phoenix. "But when you knew Kent Dana he was absolutely the opposite of that. She co-anchored the morning show. La duea del restaurante se declar culpable de fraude electrnico y admiti ante el tribunal que le rob ms de un milln de dlares a la actriz Joumana Kidd. He came back to Phoenix in 2006. Discussing the day's top sports stories from roster moves in the NFL for the Bengals to a big trade for the Rangers in the NHL. She was named the Valleys most trusted anchor in a 1990Phoenix Gazettepoll, even beating out (gasp!) Steve was killed in 1994 when his car was broadsided in Washington D.C., covering an AZ Cardinals game. Kents motto was, Take your work seriously but dont take yourself too seriously. That ideal was reflected in his annual Christmas tradition of wearing a bright red plaid jacket on-air. "All of us who had the pleasure of working with him, and calling him our friend, are shocked and devastated by the news of his passing. We can only hope to carry on his legacy. Kent also acknowledged his wife Janets sacrifice, being married to someone with such a unique job for three decades. Its either there or it isnt. Kirkpatrick worked at Channel 12 for six years before moving over to Channel 3, where she became one of the station's flagship performers. According to the eulogy published by ABC 33/40, Christopher also worked as a reporter at ABC 33/40 in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ford could have been a punch line. 2023 at 12:12 PM MST | . He had an irresistible chuckle, which we loved., Dana had a fabulously descriptive vocabulary, Flood said, some of which is probably too urbane for a newspaper story.. Something that I saw installed just a few hours prior just disappeared. As a youth, he sold donuts door-to-door, was a paperboy for The Arizona Republic, and spent summers as a construction worker on homes in the Arcadia neighborhood and Christown Mall. Ryan Cody has left 12 News in Phoenix, announcing his exit in a tweet that mentions "professional toxicity" and mental healing. ", In the 2019 interview Dana was funny and self-deprecating. He Died at Age 45 By Leila Kozma Jun. Dana was probably the most influential anchor in Phoenix since Close. Residents Resigning At High Rates + New Playground Combats Inequity, Elementary Students Fall Ill + PHX Man Dies Hours Before Release, Arizona Public Schools Earn Prestigious Award + 'Zero-Waste' Goal. "He was a mentor to me and many others here at 12," said Mark Curtis, 12 News anchor. RENOWNED news anchor Kent Dana has died after battling an infection following a broken hip. On the topic of his father, Joe said, "I just think his. Our streaming content is also available on the web by visiting. Updated: 6:17 ET, Apr 20 2022 RENOWNED news anchor Kent Dana has died after battling an infection following a broken hip. And so was Kent. In some cases, we grow up with them. ", RELATED: Mesa family who adopted 5 children honors Kent Dana. CDC data shows teen girls are dealing with an increase of depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual violence. A successful reporter and news anchor with decades of experience, Christopher became a weeknight anchor at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala. in 2017. As an adult, Kent frequently told the story as a lesson in parenting. Shumway told 12 News that Dana was both professional and fun. The first news director for Channel 12 (back in the days when it was KTAR-TV), Thompson is an unquestioned pioneer in the Phoenix TV industry. In a tweet posted Monday Cody said, "I've worn this microphone for the last time!". Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. ET Emmy Award-winning reporter and news anchor Christopher Sign died on Saturday, June 12, 2021. In the News: National headlines for March 1, 2023, Healing and Hope: Navigating Life After School Tragedy, In the News: National headlines for February 28, 2023, Locked On Sports Today: February 28, 2023, HeartThreads | Changing the lives of students. Ty has been thrilled to call the valley home for nearly a decade. . During a live broadcast, an armed man, Joseph Billie Gwin, burst into the station and took a cameramanhostage. Updated . ALWAYS a REAL friend," ABC15 anchor Kaley O'Kelleyposted. Solari Crisis & Human Services offers free crisis lines 24/7/365 dial 800-631-1314 for Maricopa County and 877-756-4090 for Northern Arizona. That quality led to an infamous 1982 incident. The guy is genuinely talented. 7:08. Later Kents father bought him a 36 Plymouth for $75 dollars. He launched a weekly variety show on Channel 5, Arizona Caravan, where he delivered news bulletins, sang songs, and hosted musical guests. KARE 11 anchor Jason Hackett teams up with Sheletta Brundidge for real talk about teen mental health and school tragedies. So it was constant banter. But Linda Alvarez, who filled the anchor chair at Channel 12 (coincidence?) AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Stephen Colbert called it out during an episode of "The Colbert Report, Channel 12 anchor Vanessa Ruiz created a stir on social media a couple of years ago, Somehow, Close simultaneously reassured viewers at home and the gunman that everything would be OK, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Phoenix had its own version of the scenario. in the '70s and '80s, received similar criticism during her run. Now think about that he had taken over Bill Closes reign as the top news anchor in the Valley, and heres this Iowa kid that came over from Palm Springs, a tiny market, and he believed in me from day one, McLaughlin said. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. More than two years after the Chandler woman was murdered, her family is still seeking justice. He began an impressive streak of anchoring the evening news from 1979-to 2004. She was partnered withClose, who wasnt pleased with the idea (I didnt want her on the set, he recalledyears later). Here's How Many Guns Were Sold In Arizona Last Month, Shop The Phoenix Farmers Market Like A Pro, Info Here, Girl Gang Garage Empowering And Training Women To Work On Cars. The cause of death was . Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Joe Dana said his father was bemused by the attention his job brought him. To the younger generation of the broadcast community, I want to tell you this. Andrea's legacy spanned more than three decades as an Emmy award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of that at NBC12 as anchor of 12 News Today and 12 News at Noon. A collection of stories highlighting those who are changing the lives of students. He died Tuesday, April 19. Dewey Hopper was a weather forecaster for 12 News. The celebration of life will be streamed on 12News.com and 12News.com/facebook. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Chris Burrous, a popular Los Angeles television news reporter and anchor, died after being found unresponsive in a hotel room, Glendale police said. I was so ecstatic I promptly ran to third base, Kent used to say when retelling the story. Being a news anchor is a job that requires a certain set of skills combined with a whole other set of talents: Can you report the news? 3 days after opening, first Black-owned wine bar in Arizona closes after alleged drunk driver hits building. In a tribute, 12 News highlighted the Wednesday's Child series that Dana and his producer Julie Frisoni Shumway brought to air. He was passionate about journalism and showed it each and every day as he pushed himself and his colleagues to be the best.". We share our condolences with the Leonard family. It got to the point where viewers would call us and ask, When is he going to wear the jacket? Kent said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. That was because he was genuinely sweet and kind. What are you waiting for? Sign broke the news of a 2016 meeting between former President Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary Clinton at the timewas running forpresidentand was being investigated by the FBI, and the then-Attorney GeneralLoretta Lynchat the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport tarmac. He would do that for anyone.". This totally subjective list contains 10 of the most memorable anchors in Phoenix TV history. 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