I was asked to be an honorary pallbearer for the service, which meant a lot to me.
Many in the crowd felt this day marked the end of an era for television news, but even amid the sadness, the palpable celebration of a man who had impacted Houston in so many ways was evident.
The touching ceremony began with biblical readings from his stepdaughters, Rachelle Rowe and Corey Flores, with an additional reading from his granddaughter, Sarah Heatley.
Three emotional eulogies were offered by friends of Ward's who all saw a different side of the iconic Houston journalist: Dave Strickland, his former producer and eventual news director; Jim McGrath, his biography's co-author; and restaurant magnate, Houston Rockets owner, and current United States Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta.
A surprise recording Ward made a year ago played through the church's speakers as the anchor's last goodbye. Hearing that familiar booming voice echo through the sanctuary was as close to an in-person goodbye as attendees could get.
The white gloved pallbearers were Dr. Mohammed Attar, Jim McGrath, Jeff Bagwell, Jim McInvale, Gary Becker, Dan Pastorini, Anthony Buzbee, Dave Strickland, Tilman Fertitta, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
Honorary pallbearers included Tom Abrahams, Ted Oberg, Mike McGuff, Elvin Bethea, John Mubarak, Wayne Dolcefino, Don Nelson, Tony Gracely, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Tim Heller, Dr. Tom Sawyer, Bob Jackson, Justin Sternberg, Don Kobos, Bob Slovak, and Tom Koch.
The Rev. Dane E. Boston and The Rev. Lisa R. Neilson oversaw the funeral.
The funeral was aired live on Channel 13 and live-streamed on ABC13+. You can watch the service with the additional KTRK coverage here.
He is survived by his wife, Laura, three children, and three stepchildren. His son David Jr. passed away in 2023.
Anchor Tom Abrahams broke into the ABC primetime college game broadcast to announce the sad news to the Houston audience.
"Words cannot express my sadness over this larger-than-life Houston icon," former KTRK anchor Art Rascon told mikemcguff.com. "I loved Dave Ward, and working beside him for more than two decades was an absolute blessing! Every day was an opportunity to learn and grow and truly understand what journalism was all about. He was the best and always will be!"
"He was not only a news legend, but a dear and close friend," former KTRK news director Dave Strickland told mikemcguff.com. "I learned so much from Dave, both in television and in life. I will miss him dearly."
"He was a warm, funny, lovely man---and one of Dad's best friends. Such a loss," former KPRC 2 reporter Ron Stone, Jr. told mikemcguff.com.
A generation of Houston television viewers grew up with Dave Ward.
For 50 years, the powerful yet reassuring voice behind the ABC13 KTRK anchor desk guided the city through breaking news, triumphs, and tragedies. Ward delivered the news with unwavering integrity and authenticity. Each newscast began with his signature greeting: “Good evening, friends.”
Earning that trust meant everything. Ward insisted on balanced coverage, reporting both sides and getting the facts right. That relentless commitment to accuracy—paired with his warm, steady presence—is why he became known as “The Dean of Houston News.”
Since stepping away from the Channel 13 anchor desk in May 2017, Dave has continued sharing stories. His 2019 memoir, Good Evening, Friends: A Broadcaster Shares His Life, offers a rich look at his extraordinary career. He later returned to KTRK for the feature series “Dave Ward’s Houston.”
In 2021, he launched the “Dave Ward & Friends” video podcast, inviting audiences into casual conversations with the many remarkable people he’s met over more than six decades in broadcasting.
"I can recall so many times returning from a reporting trip and talking with him one on one, as he gave me more tips on how to cover a story," Rascon added. "He was always a patient teacher, example, and the epitome of a journalist. I will miss him. I will miss our occasional conversations after he retired, meeting for breakfast, and enjoying his captivating smile. Love you Dave! Your legacy lives on…even from heaven."
Mike McGuff and Dave Ward in 2016
Early Life
David Henry Ward was born in Dallas on May 6, 1939, though he grew up in Huntsville, Texas, where his father, Henry, served as pastor of the First Baptist Church.
While attending Tyler Junior College, Dave discovered broadcasting almost by accident, watching a fraternity brother spin records at KGKB radio. Soon, he was behind the microphone himself—after the station manager suggested that “David” sounded “too biblical” and the young announcer adopted the name listeners would come to know: Dave Ward.
KGKB’s easy-listening format flipped to rock ’n’ roll overnight with new ownership, and Dave adapted quickly. By the early 1960s, he had moved to WACO radio in Waco, shifting from music to news and eventually becoming program director.
Moving to Houston
In 1962, Dave moved his young family to Houston to join 1230 KNUZ-AM and KQUE, where he read news between Top 40 hits. He was later promoted to news director and ultimately inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, nominated by Houston radio legends Paul Berlin and Arch Yancy.
"Well, at KNUZ, we were very big on the space program, the man space program, because NASA was headquartered in Houston," Ward told mikemcguff in a 2016 interview. "They hadn't built the Space Center yet. They were in the process of building that, but they were in buildings all around the city."
Joining Channel 13
Dave made the leap to television in 1966, becoming KTRK’s sole street reporter and photographer—a true one-man news crew. He shot film on a hand-wound 16mm Bell & Howell camera, covered everything from fires to city hall, and even took his job interview in a Rice Village pool hall.
"The man who hired me. The news director, Ray Conaway," Ward told mikemcguff.com in 2016. "He was an old, B-24 bomber pilot in World War II. And he met Willard Walbridge who was the station manager somewhere in the military. He was the news director and the anchor. We only did 15 minutes at 6:00PM and 15 minutes at 10:00PM. That was it. And, Ray had a very grim, delivery. "Here's the news," you know. And, in '67 they put me on the 7:00AM news, which I didn't even know we had, [laughs] to tell you the truth."
Though Dave initially took a $50 pay cut to move from radio to TV, he was soon anchoring the 7 a.m. newscast and co-hosting the popular “Dialing for Dollars.”
"I went on the 7:00AM in January of '67 and that summer -- it seemed like it was April or May -- they decided they wanted to do this, like a game show in the morning from 9:00 to 10:00," Ward remembered in a 2016 mikemcguff.com interview. "It was an hour-long program. I made six phone calls during that hour, trying to give money away. It was a funny format."
In January 1968, he moved to the main anchor desk at 6 and 10 p.m. with Dan Ammerman. Off the air, he often continued working through the night, covering breaking news around the city.
In those early years, KTRK’s newscasts ranked third in a three-station market. Dave helped change that. Over time, Houstonians embraced Eyewitness News, and by the mid-1970s, channel 13 had climbed to number one—a position it held for decades.
Dave would go on to anchor alongside Jan Carson, Shara Fryer, and Gina Gaston, becoming one of the most recognized faces in Texas broadcasting.
Reporting Across the Globe
Ward’s reporting took him far beyond Houston. He covered national political conventions, the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs from Florida, and major disasters across Texas and the South. He reported from Mexico, Central America, and Colombia; traveled with a Houston delegation to the Paris Peace Talks; and studied mass transit in Germany.
His interviews spanned the spectrum—from U.S. Presidents to everyday Houstonians. Five presidents and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller sat down with him over the years.
Dave’s service to Houston extends far beyond the newsroom. He has emceed countless charitable events and served on numerous boards, including Easter Seals, the American Cancer Society, the Leukemia Society, the Press Club of Houston, the Houston Police Foundation, and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. He broadcast the Rodeo Parade for an astounding 49 years.
In 1973, he received the City of Houston Public Service Award for his coverage of the Managua earthquake.
Perhaps his most transformative contribution is his work with Crime Stoppers of Houston. Dave was instrumental in launching the program in 1981, pioneering crime reenactments and helping shape Crime Stoppers chapters worldwide. The first Crime Stoppers headquarters in the United States, which opened in 2016, was named The Dave Ward Building in his honor.
Honors and Legacy
Dave’s accolades are numerous:
Leon Goldstein Award for outstanding service in fighting crime
Regional Emmy for his interviews with Steve Tyrell
Induction into the Silver Circle of the Lone Star Emmy Chapter
**“The longest career as a television news broadcaster—49 years and 218 days”—**all at the same station, on the same newscast.
A remarkable achievement for a remarkable man.
Dave Ward's career is not simply a record of journalism. It is the story of a trusted voice, a steady presence, and a lifelong commitment to the city he loves...one “Good evening, friends” at a time.
Phil Lane announced in a video to staff today that he is retiring from KPRC 2 Houston as Vice President and General Manager effective April 11, 2025.
I have not personally seen the video, but multiple sources confirm the information to mikemcguff.com.
He joined KPRC, succeeding Jerry Martin from Graham Media Group's sister station, KSAT 12 in San Antonio, in 2022, where he held the same position.
KPRC did not respond to my inquiries. If I receive a response, I will add it here.
When I asked Dave Strickland, the first KPRC news director to work under Lane, for a statement on the GM's upcoming retirement, he replied, "No comment."
More likely coming top down from the Graham Media Group, if you've been reading this blog or other trade publications, KPRC has recently seen a significant number of longtime employees leave. Just last year, the station had buyouts, along with KSAT, of notable figures such as chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley and news director Bernice Kearney, among many other longtime managers. Staffers say this has affected the morale of those who remained. My readers have also commented on social media that the station has also experienced a high rate of turnover among anchors and reporters.
Joining KSAT in 2011, Lane led the station to market dominance in news ratings and oversaw the number one local media website in San Antonio, according to Graham Media Group. Under his leadership, KSAT launched local programming, including “SA Live,” a daily live lifestyle show, and “Texas Eats,” a food series now distributed statewide.
Lane also spearheaded KSAT’s digital expansion, including the streaming news series “KSAT Explains,” the KSAT Plus content stream, mobile and OTT apps, and the KSAT Big Game Coverage high school sports network. Additionally, he created Graham Media’s first membership program, KSAT Insiders.
Before joining KSAT, the Furman University grad served as Vice President and General Manager of:
WSPA and WYCW in the Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville/Anderson, NC, market (2004-2011)
WJBF in Augusta, GA (2000-2004)
WRBL in Columbus, GA (1997-2000)
Now that KPRC will be getting a new general manager, it will add to the list of new leaders who have joined Houston TV in the last year. David Loving was hired by KHOU and Humberto Hormaza by CW39 KIAH in May 2024, with Mike Carr by ABC13 KTRK in September 2024.
Bernice Kearney, who has been at the helm of KPRC 2 Houston as news director for the past 18 months, is now moving on, as reported by Rick Gevers and Associates. UPDATE: Kearney is taking the KPRC buyout with the 11 other employees and will leave July 1, 2024.
Gevers writes that Kearney is "apparently one of many veteran employees taking a buyout across the company."
Kearney joined KPRC in November 2022 from Graham Media Group sister station KSAT 12 San Antonio, taking over after Dave Strickland left. Mario Orellana took Kearney's KSAT news director position, moving up from assistant news director.
She joined KSAT in 1993 and worked her way up to the news director position in 2013.
A St. Mary's University graduate, Kearney began her TV career as a KENS 5 San Antonio producer.
Chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley announced last week he was leaving. Unknown if that was a buyout.
The Lone Star EMMYs have announced the inductees to the chapters Silver Circle for 2023.
"I'm floored," Dave Strickland, one of the 2023 honorees, told mikemcguff.com. "What an honor to be associated with some of the legends of Houston and Texas Broadcasters. I have had a great run and worked with some of the very best. It's just an incredible honor."
I had the honor of working for Strickland when he was the abc13 KTRK Houston news director. He also went on to lead the KPRC 2 newsroom.
Other 2023 honorees include anchor Raul Peimbert of Univision 45 KXLN.
"Raul is very deserving of being inducted into this prestigious Society of Honor," Martha Kattan, Vice President of Content TelevisaUnivision, Inc. told mikemcguff.com. "It is a testament to his dedication, commitment and passion to excellence in Spanish language broadcast journalism. What an honor and blessing to work alongside such a respected, trustworthy and recognized Hispanic journalist in the United States. We are extremely grateful to have Raul Peimbert in the Univision family and congratulate him on this very special recognition."
Kattan is a 2017 inductee of the Silver Circle.
Former Houston TV journalist (KHOU 11/FOX 26 KRIV) and now WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth General Manager Carolyn Mungo is also joining the Silver Circle.
"I’m blessed to have built a career in this crazy business," Mungo told mikemcguff.com. "I’m proud to be a journalist and still love what I do. Pretty good deal."
Outside of the local television news world, Ron Kabele of Texas Parks and Wildlife is also inducted.
"The Silver Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations. They must also have made a significant contribution to the Lone Star Chapter television for at least part of their 25-year career. The Lone Star Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Silver Circle members since 2003."
You can see those already in the Silver Circle here.
The Lone Star EMMY Chapter awards show will take place November 11, 2023 at the 713 Music Hall in Houston.
Dave Ward is so beloved by the city of Houston for his 50 years of broadcasting service to the community, that he now has his own honorary named street next to the KTRK studios.
"I want to thank you all, I can't tell you what this means to me," Ward remarked to the crowd of family and friends gathered for the street sign unveiling. "I got my name on a building now, I got my name on a street. I guess a few people in Houston have heard of me."
As of Tuesday August, 8, 2023, the intersection of 3400 Bissonnet Street and 5200 Westchester has a blue marker on top of the red Upper Kirby district street sign that displays "Honorary Dave Ward Place."
The abc13 studios are right there at 3310 Bissonnet. Ward's wife, Laura, helped orchestrate the big honor.
Channel 13 employees of past and present were in attendance to show their love for Houston's anchorman.
"I sat next to Dave Ward for basically, 27 years, and he is more than just a colleague, he was family, he's my friend," former Ward co-anchor Shara Fryer told mikemcguff.com. "And the respect we had for each other, and the respect he showed me as a young person at the time when i came to work here, and now I'm seeing this culmination. There is a Crime Stoppers building named for him. And now a street corner named for him."
"Dave was part of the building and I guess now he's part of the street," joked retired abc13 traffic anchor and "Good Morning Houston" host Don Nelson to mikemcguff.com.
"Long overdue," former KTRK news director Dave Strickland told mikemcguff.com. "Dave Ward is a legend and it's good to see his work as the 'Voice of Houston' immortalized next to the station where he dedicated his career."
"Well deserved, Dave is an icon in the community and a well respected journalist who always dealt with facts straight and forward," former KTRK assistant news director/reporter Don Kobos told mikemcguff.com. "He is highly respected for what he did and what he brought to channel 13."
Right before the big unveiling, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Police Chief Troy Finner and KTRK General Manager Wendy Granato honored Ward.
"For a long time, we've wanted to do something special to honor Dave's contribution to the community," Mayor Turner told the guests. "And we thought an honorary street sign near Channel 13 made the most sense because he spent so much of his personal and professional life right here."
KPRC 2 Houston was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists in the 2022 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism for its coverage of its Uvalde school massacre coverage in the Television Breaking News Coverage category (All Markets).
In reporting on this horrible event that scarred Texas and the nation, the SPJ said: "With reporters on site at multiple locations, and key details identified early on, including a map to clearly identify the location, it was easy to follow the difficult to watch story."
"I am extremely proud of my former team as this is the second national SPJ award we won during the past five years," Dave Strickland, the KPRC 2 news director at the time of the tragedy, told mikemcguff.com. "Uvalde is a good 200 miles from Houston. The award shows the excellence and skills of the team when it came to covering the big story."
Other honorees included the New York Times, NBC News and CBS News 60 Minutes.
According to the website, The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932. The current program started in 1939, when the first Distinguished Service Awards were held (later becoming the Sigma Delta Chi Awards).
Former KPRC 2 anchor Bill Balleza was honored with Dave Ward Excellence in Media Award for 2023. It's cool to see one Houston news legend honoring another.
"Humbled and grateful to be honored with an award named after my good friend, Dave Ward," Balleza said on Facebook.
The award was presented during the Crime Stoppers of Houston 2023 Houston’s Heroes Awards Luncheon held at the Royal Sonesta Houston on April 26, 2023.
Bernice Kearney has been named KPRC 2 Houston news director after serving in the same position at Graham Media Group sister-station KSAT 12 San Antonio.
"Bernice is a strong newsroom leader, a solid journalist, innovative on all platforms and possesses an engaging, caring personality," Lane said in the memo. "She is not afraid of the work it takes to win big and has a proven track record of helping her team learn, thrive, grow, and become successful both personally and professionally."
Kearney has been with KSAT since 1993, working her way up from producer, senior producer, executive producer, assistant news director and then news director in 2013.
The St. Mary's University grad started her television career with KENS 5 San Antonio as a producer.
“We thank Lauren for her years of service and dedication," recently hired KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Phil Lane said in a release. "She’s been a great team member and leader in the newsroom. We wish her continued success as she moves on to the next chapter in her life; she will be missed.”
Daniella Guzman will add Freeman's 5pm duties to her 6p and 10pm newscasts ones alongside Keith Garvin starting Monday, November 14, 2022.
The Childress, Texas native came to Houston from KPRC's sister station News4JAX WJXT Jacksonville, Florida. Before that, she worked for WFTC Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The fourth generation Baylor University Bear started her television career in the Waco/Temple/Killeen market as an editor for News 25 KXXV. She then moved across the TV street to report for KWTX News 10 and then serve as the KCEN 6 morning anchor...a Central Texas TV trifecta!
On a personal note, I was in classes with Freeman at Baylor and worked with her at KXXV while we were in school. Freeman was a hard worker and really was able to move up through the Waco TV market. By the time she was the KCEN morning anchor, I was a reporter with KXXV, and I remember watching her and thinking she is already very good at this job and will go far. Sure enough, she was quickly off to her first out of state job. Fast forward about five years, while I was at KTRK, Freeman appeared on KPRC and I thought it was well deserved.
New Country 96.3 KSCS named the National Association of Broadcasters Country Radio Station of the Year.
The Dallas Bar Association awarded the NBC 5 KXAS Investigates team with the Philbin Award at its annual Fellows Luncheon for the accuracy, resourcefulness and initiative pursing the extensive coverage over the past year uncovering widespread issues plaguing the state’s Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) temporary license plate system; identifying how criminals infiltrated the system and obtained hundreds of thousands of temporary tags illegally for profit.
Jay Cresswell exits program director chair at 98.7 K-LUV.
Lesley James joins 91.7 KKXT as assistant program director.
Former Staffers Of KLIF-A/Dallas - Fort Worth celebrate reunite.
A DFW radio DJ charged with producing child pornography has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison.
Astros, Rockets and Comcast reach settlement on CSN Houston dispute.
Former abc13 KTRK reporter/Vice President of Community Affairs, Cynthia Cisneros, is the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP) winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2022 Sylvan Rodriguez Scholarship Gala.
CW39 Sharron Melton receives award from Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.
People magazine features the wedding of Fox Weather's Stephen Morgan (former FOX 26 KRIV) and NBC News Correspondent Steven Romo (former abc13 KTRK).
Sarah Smith joins Houston Chronicle as senior enterprise reporter.
Houston Biz Journal hires Nair as tech and innovation reporter.
Ralph Green is the new suburban reporter for the Houston Chronicle.
Charlie Haldeman has left his KHOU 11 Assistant Digital Director role to join the Sinclair Broadcast Group as Regional Content Director.
Paul McKenna, who has worked at abc13 KTRK for 37 years, is retiring from the station as a Digital Graphics Producer.
Felix Cortez, who worked at abc13 KTRK for 24 years as an audio engineer/director, has left the station.
Anthony Reed, who has been the abc13 KTRK lead photographer since February 2022, and a photographer since 2009, is leaving for sister-station ABC11 WTVD Raleigh-Durham, NC to become the operations manager.
Sean Vaughn leaves 90.5 KJIC as program director/morning host to join Cox Media Group Houston as chief engineer. Andy Hudack retired from there in September.
October 31, 2022 – Houston, TX – We are excited to announce that former KPRC 2 weekend news anchor Sofia Ojeda will return to anchor KPRC 2 News Today alongside Owen Conflenti, and anchor Lisa Hernandez will be promoted to the Midday, Noon and 4 p.m. newscasts. The move begins Monday, November 14, 2022.
Houston viewers will remember Ojeda from her seven years reporting, and most recently anchoring KPRC 2 News Today Weekends. Prior to KPRC 2, Ojeda served as an anchor/reporter at WNEP 6 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, anchor/reporter at WTEM 18 in Elmira, New York, and anchor/reporter at WIVT/WBGH NewsChannel 34 in Binghamton, New York.
Born in Lima, Peru, Sofia moved to the U.S. as a child, growing up in New Jersey. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with a degree in Communications and is fluent in Spanish.
Lisa Hernandez joined KPRC 2 in June 2020 as co-anchor of KPRC 2 News Today with Owen Conflenti and KPRC 2 News Midday with Andy Cerota. Prior to KPRC 2, Hernandez anchored in Houston for 8 years. This new shift will allow her to bring her journalism skillset to an entirely new audience.
“KPRC 2 has a wealth of current and former talent,” says KPRC 2 Vice President & General Manager Phil Lane. “I’m thrilled that Sofia will be returning to KPRC 2 News Today and so happy to be able to promote Lisa to the afternoons where she will continue her great work as an important and valuable part of our team.”
Christine Noël has announced she is leaving KPRC 2. A valued part of our KPRC 2 News team, Christine joined us in February 2019 and has gone on to anchor our Noon & 4:00 p.m. newscasts, also filling in at 5, 6 & 10 p.m. During her time at KPRC 2, Christine has covered numerous stories, including the 2020/21 Tokyo Olympics, the Astros 2021 trip to the World Series, and played a pivotal role in our Bells for Abigail series.
“We want to thank Christine Noël for her hard work and professionalism,” says KPRC 2 Vice President & General Manager Phil Lane. “We wish her all the best as she pursues her next chapter in life.”
Jerry Vazquez in center with Ubaldo Martinez, Alejandro Mendoza, Crystal Ayala and Carlos Robles (2018 photo taken for mikemcguff.com courtesy of Telemundo Houston KTMD)
Gerardo “Jerry” Vazquez, 54, the Vice President of News for Telemundo Houston KTMD, has lost his battle with cancer over the weekend.
Crystal Ayala, Telemundo Houston evening anchor, posted the following about Vazquez's death on Facebook:
"He was the one who saw in me, as in so many of my colleagues, a special light, so I don't hesitate to further push my career at Telemundo Houston. I'm lucky to have earned his trust and had the blessing to work by his side, to learn from him... and growing up with him for almost eight years.
A boss who was always looking out for the well being of my two kids; that is valued even more.
Jerry Vazquez was a great connoisseur of journalism, leader by nature, passionate who lived enormously proud of his team, his mom and his brothers."
"Jerry was terrific Journalist, terrific manager and a great friend," former abc13 KTRK Vice President of News Dave Strickland told mikemcguff.com. "My heart goes out to his family. I can't believe he's gone. He will be missed."
"Jerry was was one of the best newsmen I ever worked with," former abc13 KTRK assistant news director Don Kobos told mikemcguff.com. "He not only understood the English newscape but he was a top flight Spanish speaking newsman. He will be missed. Prayers to his family. He was a wonderful friend."
"Jerry was a mentor to me and a news whisperer," KIII 3News Corpus Christi morning anchor John-Thomas Kobos told mikemcguff.com. "When it came to guidance over the best way to deliver stories, how to dress professionally on-air or handle contract negations - his advice was always golden and spot on. His legacy in the news business will outlast his time here on earth. He will be greatly missed as a mentor and a friend."
Vazquez joined KTMD in August 2014 where he rebuilt the station's news department after Comcast bought the NBCUniversal owned station from General Electric.
"When you have the right team in place together you can accomplish anything," Vazquez told me in 2018. "In my opinion we have assembled a team of the best producers, anchors, reporters, photographers and assignments desk!"
Under the leadership of Vazquez, President and General Manager Tony Canales, Vice President of Marketing JC Perez and others, KTMD moved to the top of the ratings in Houston.
Vazquez came to KTMD from abc13 KTRK (2001 to 2014) where he oversaw the 5, 6 and 10pm newscasts as executive producer when the newscasts were the number one shows in their timeslots.
He previously worked as:
- News Director KMID Odessa/Midland (1997 to 2001)
- Assignments Manager KMOL (Now News 4 San Antonio WOAI) (1993 to 1997)
- Assistant News Director/Assignments Telemundo San Antonio KVDA (1989 to 1993)
- Producer KGNS 8 Laredo (1986 to 1989)
"Hispanic TV in the past had been underrated and under served and not taken seriously in the field or by civic leaders," Vazquez told me in 2018. "This has changed since when I first worked for Telemundo in the early 90’s. We had to wait for soundbites in Spanish until after the English station got everything they needed. Today the press conferences are held in English and Spanish Giving us us the same opportunity to run them live."
On a personal note, Jerry was one of my favorite bosses at channel 13. He was always there with good advice on everything from scripts to how to handle various situations in the newsrooms. Beyond being an amazing mentor, he was a great overall guy with a funny sense of humor that could always make the toughest newsroom situation a little better. Jerry was always a big supporter of my Alzheimer's disease advocacy work. He certainly will be missed.
