Mike Menchaca, a photojournalist with ABC13 KTRK Houston for over three decades who just retired, was toasted by family and current and former Channel 13 colleagues Friday night.
Menchaca's wife, Traci, threw the party and told the crowd how she met Mike by calling the Channel 13 sports department! Now you know KTRK is all about news, weather, sports...and love!
Retired KTRK photojournalist Jaime Zamora read a proclamation by Houston Mayor John Whitmire and emotionally recounted how he and Menchaca, friends for decades, helped each other through the Texas television landscape from Corpus Christi to KVUE Austin and KTRK.
In thanking everyone for coming to his retirement party, Menchaca remembered those who were important to him and who couldn't attend. He mentioned names like 13 Outdoorsman Thom Dickerson, Bob Allen, Tim Melton, and former KTRK general manager Jim Masucci.
Iconic anchors and reporters such as Shara Fryer, Tom Koch, Don Nelson, Don Kobos, Art Rascon, Deborah Wrigley, and Jeff McShan were there to honor Menchaca.
I saw current KTRK staffers celebrating the legendary photographer, including Jessica Willey, Jeff Ehling, Pooja Lodhia, Mycah Hatfield, Joe Gleason, Chaz Miller, Courtney Fischer, Rosie Nguyen, Pat Tobin, Damion Smith, David Aguillard, John Carreon, and Doug Schurtz among others.
Menchaca and I reminisced about our trip to Central Texas to interview the legendary Cadet Don, AKA Al Eisenman, who entertained Channel 13's younger viewers on weekday mornings from 1959 to 1968. Now, before you ask, no, I can't remember if we got to "meet" his pal Seymour or not! The Houston Chronicle even mentions our Cadet Don story!
