Walt Howard is retiring from NewsChannel 10 KFDA Amarillo after more than 40 years with the station as evening anchor and managing editor.
Through the years, Howard has anchored, done weather and even sports from time to time.
“Way back in the late ’60′s when tape recorders, and a lot of people won’t know what that is, but it’s the reel to reel tape recorder... when it first came out his dad got one for Christmas,” said Terry Howard, Walt’s wife in 2020. “They knew right then and there that he was going to want to be a reporter because he would sneak it out and go play with it.”
Terry Howard said over the years that Walt had job offers from television stations around the country, but always wanted to stay in Amarillo.
“He loves it here,” she said. “He grew up on the Mississippi River in Burlington, Iowa, but he said the best thing he ever did was move to Amarillo. He likes the wide open spaces and the big Texas sunsets and just the people here. He just loves the people here and their can-do attitude.”
“It’s absolutely unheard of for a news anchor to be with the same station, in the same market for 40 years, and that says a lot about Walt Howard right there - his professionalism, his love for the area, so NewsChannel 10 has been very, very fortunate to have him,” said Dr. Paul Matney, retired president of Amarillo College on the station's website.
Speaking of Amarillo College, Howard taught journalism at the school for 20 years.
“Walt has worn a lot of hats around the building, but I think he really hit his stride, hit his niche when he became the main anchor,” said Doppler Dave Oliver on the station's website. “And also not only that, when he became more of a mentor and kind of would oversee reporters and their scripts.”
"Couldn’t have asked for a better anchor to start my on-air career in Texas next to," tweeted KFDA sports director/anchor Larissa Liska. "His professionalism, mentorship and off camera humor will be greatly missed. Happy retirement to Walt Howard and congrats to 40+ years at @NewsChannel10. Welcome to the Walt Howard Studio!"
“I got to work next to him for 19 years, and it was an incredible 19 year run,” said former KFDA news director and anchor Kari King (who know works as a manager at KFOR Oklahoma). "He helped prepare me to become the journalist that I am today. He helped prepare me to succeed in this business. He helped prepare me to become a news director. And he pushed you toward excellence all the time. And that’s what you get day in and day out is consistency, and that’s key.”
Howard, who is involved in the Texas Panhandle community, is known for station events like the "Together We Can Holiday Food and Fund Drive" which he has been working on for decades.
In 2021, Howard, a 1975 graduate, was inducted into the Amarillo High School Sandie Hall of Fame for his long television career and good works.
Couldn’t have asked for a better anchor to start my on-air career in Texas next to. His professionalism, mentorship and off camera humor will be greatly missed. Happy retirement to Walt Howard and congrats to 40+ years at @NewsChannel10. 🎙 Welcome to the Walt Howard Studio! pic.twitter.com/2Hb7Z7kzjH
— Larissa Liska (@LarissaLiska) January 14, 2022
