Category: WXYZ – Detroit, MI
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Berman, Mike
WXON: TV Station Manager WCXI: Radio General Sales Manager WKBD: TV Sales Manager WWJ: TV Sales Manager WXYZ: Radio, TV Sales Manager.
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Berg, Bob
WXYZ: Editor/producer for “From the Heart”, 1997-2002. Former press secretary for Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young. Recent Sightings: References:
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WXYZ Team with Jesse Jackson
Herman and Gary always worked well with the guest wherever they work on projects with WXYZ.
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Anderson, Pete
WXYZ: TV Engineering, Technical Director. Retire after 36 years on January 19, 2019. Pete started out at WRIF with Mark Zahnow and Eddie Durrschmidt. [Thanks to Cathy Alfafara for the updated information. 01/16/2020]
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Westbrook, Gary
Turner Broadcasting: Broadcast/IT Systems Engineering Supervisor. Retired from Turner Broadcasting Entertainment Networks Dec. 2017. WXYZ: Engineering, videographer. Recent Sightings: References:
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The Three Mustaches at WXYZ
Lee Volchoff, Bruce Hamilton, Nick Wetherby – Photo from Terry Pochert’s retirement collection
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Penn, Nate
Retiring in 2018 after 40 years of service with WXYZ-TV. Nate was a photojournalist in the news department and worked on many production events as well.
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McKalpain, Herman
WXYZ: TV engineering. Retired in 2007, but active running a summer basketball camp and judging professional boxing. WGPR: Sportscaster Herman McAlpain – Circa 1980s. It’s not unusual for a camerman to also act as a reporter. Here is a great picture from Herman Herman’s collection of him interviewing Michael Jordan References:
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Russell, Mike
Michael B. Russell, ATA vice president of Public Affairs and veteran newsman, died in a white water rafting accident in Colorado June 15, 2006. Mike fell from the raft on Clear Creek and was declared dead when pulled from the river.
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Kirik, Joe
WXYZ: TV news, writer and producer. Retired on February 28, 2017, from ITC Holdings Corp. Worked for four years at WXYZ, then with both agency and corporate public relations companies. References: Recent Sightings:
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Turner, Marilyn (nee Miller)
WXYZ: TV talent. Co-host with John Kelly of Kelly and Company and Good Afternoon Detroit. Passed: May 2024 [wxyz.com] References: Marilyn Turner, a real expert at handling many of the technical issues that come with broadcasting news had a struggle with the mechanical weather board.
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Doerner, Wanda
WXYZ: TV engineering, ENG news editiing Wanda Doerner with one of her Emmy awards for her amazing editing skills – From the Terry Pochert’s retirement collection. Wanda retired on October 31, 2023, after 41 years with the station. Wanda died unexpectedly in April 2026. (PDF) References:
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Smith, Erik
WXYZ: August 2017 Erik Smith inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. [1] Erik Smith writes on Facebook, August 23, 2017: Once upon a time in 1972 … if you could tell me the price of chuck steak at Wrigley’s Supermarket, I’d give you $50.00! Then I started doing the phone calls…
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Findlater, Jeanne
Jeanne Findlater – WXYZ: Vice President and General Station Manager. (1979-1987); WKBD: Producer of the Lou Gordon Show and Hot Seat
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Kelly, John (nee Kelin)
WXYZ: TV talent. Co-host with Marilyn Turner of Kelly and Company and Good Afternoon Detroit. Avid horseman.
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Swanteck, Mary
Mary Swantek, 22-year-old University of Michigan senior from Bay City, “mans” a 700-pound color camera as she works a life show at WXYZ-TV in Detroit.
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LewAllen, Dave
Thirty-five years to the day since he walked in the door at Broadcast House, Dave LewAllen announced he will retire from 7 Action News in April. LewAllen, a pillar of Detroit television news, first joined the station as a sports reporter in 1988.
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Derry, Charles – ‘Chuck’
WXYZ: TV Production. Chuck worked for over 30 years at the station including the summer of 1963 as an engineer then from 1968 through 1998 as a Stage Manager and Director.
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Baumann, David
WXYZ: This role was part of his career in television marketing and creative media. KSTP: Director of Creative Services.
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Bebout, George
WXYZ: Writer, producer.
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The Lone Ranger – Rochester-Avon Historical Society
The Lone Ranger – Rochester-Avon Historical Society
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Belesky-Salem, Brian
WXYZ: Radio engineering. Motor City Radio Reunion (a gathering of Detroit radio professionals) – LiveVideoInc
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Johnson, Mary Ann – aka “Mary Anne Johnston”
WHAS: Country Music Talent WXYZ: Country Music Talent WJR: Country Music Talent WSDC: Country Music Talent WEXL: Country Music Talent
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Belian, Thomas
WXYZ: Intern on the AM Detroit show. “AM Detroit” was a locally produced morning talk/variety show that aired on WXYZ-TV for many years and was quite popular in the Detroit market.
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Beemer, J.D.
J.D. Beemer was a second-generation cowboy performer. His father, Brace Beemer, was the most popular of the radio actors who portrayed The Lone Ranger.
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Kraft, Walter
Walter Kraft, former News Director of WXYZ-TV in Southfield, Michigan, now Vice President for Communications with Eastern Michigan University.
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Proctor, Bill
Bill Proctor – WXYZ: The “Doc” is now official. MAB Hall of Fame induction means I join my nominator Jerry Hodak, Chuck Stokes, Diana Lewis, and Eric Smith among others.
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Liebman, Jerry (aka Specs Howard)
Jerry Liebman – Specs Howard, a disc jockey and founder of an influential Metro Detroit broadcasting school, died early Saturday. [September 3, 2022] He was 96.
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Amiri, Camille
Camille Amiri – WJBK: General Assignment Reporter; WRTV: Freelance Reporter; WXYZ: Freelance Reporter.; WXIX: Reporter; WANE: General Assignment Reporter; WFXL: General Assignment Reporter
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Barnes, Joe
Joe Barnes – KOMO: Vice President and News Director; KTTV: News Director; KPIX: KGO: ; WXYZ: TV news.; WKBW: News Director; KCRA:
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Conway, Mary
WXYZ: TV news reporter. Worked at WIFR, WZZM and then finally with WXYZ. Former WXYZ reporter Mary Conway to join Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame – Febuary 12, 2019 Former WXYZ reporter Mary Conway will be inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, it was announced today. Conway, who set the standard for automotive and…
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Sales, Soupy – ‘Milton Supman’- ‘Milton Heinz’
Soupy Sales – WXYZ: Moved from Cleveland’s WJW-TV (Channel8) in 1953 to work at WXYZ. ; Deceased. Talent, The Soupy Sales Show.
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Baier, George
WRIF: FM Programming, personality. Jim Johnson and George Baier got together to become JJ and the Morning Crew
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Dungan, Troy
Troy Dungan – WFAA: TV weather. KTXD: TV weather.; WXYZ: 1974, TV weather. Started his trademark bow tie; WCAU: TV weather; KTRK: TV weather.; KWTX: 1958, TV weather.
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Hardy, Christina
Christina Hardy – WDIV: Executive Assistant; WXYZ: Public Affairs and Community Relations.
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Avery, Lou
WXYZ: If you have information about Lou, please drop us a note using the Comment section at the bottom of this page.
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Ruzzin, Chris
WXYZ: Intern, Production Assistant Died on November 20, 2025. “Chris worked as an Intern at Channel 7 in the sports department under the leadership of Don Shane. Chris was born with a disability and later suffered a spinal injury which confined him to a wheelchair but that never held him back. He worked for numerous…
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Hennes, Bill
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by
in CKLW – Windsor, Ontario, General, Home, Journalism, Personnel, WBRB – Buckhannon, WV, WBXX – Knoxville, TN, WIBM – Jackson, MI, WJEF – Lafayette, IN, WKLO – Louisville, KY, WLIIN – Durant, MS, WMAQ – Chicago, IL, WNHC – New Haven, CT, WTAC – Burton, MI, WTNH – New Haven, CT, WTRX – Flint, MI, WXYZ – Detroit, MIWXYZ: Programming.; WNHC (WTNH): When at WNHC, aka Wild Willy Mitchell (1960s).
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Kelly, Garry
WBMA: News DirectorWXYZ: TV news, writer, producer.WAFF: ProducerWTVF: Producer Recent Sightings: References:
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![Shane, Don [Donald L.]](https://broadcastingvault.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/shane_don_C120_250x.jpg)
Shane, Don [Donald L.]
WXYZ: Sports Director. Retired on February 29, 2012, after 23 years with WXYZ-TV. Don died February 2023.WDIV: Sportscaster “Longtime Channel 7 sportscaster Don Shane has died at the age of 70, 7 Action News has learned. Don spent 23 years at WXYZ and no one had more fun on the air or covering our local…
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Smith, Michelle
WXYZ: Videographer, Video Editor; KGUN: Master Control Operator; WKBD: Camera Operator, Lighting Manger, Floor Director; KWBA: Master Control Operator
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Wrobel, Philip
WXYZ: Creative Services Director; WTVR: Marketing Director; KARK: Creative Services Director
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Gilchrist, Grace
Grace Gilchrist – WXYZ: Station Manager – Longest serving V.P& General Manager of WXZ-TV.
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Lewis, Diana
WXYZ: TV News Anchor. Actress with performances opposite Sylvester Stallone in the box office favorites, Rocky and Rocky 5. She also appeared on TV shows including The Twilight Zone, Hunter, The Gary Shandling Show, Murder She Wrote, The Million Dollar Caper, and All My Children. References:
