When I confided in him that I wanted to reach the network,he was the first person to tell me I could. He never laughed at my dreams, said Sean McLaughlin, who worked with Dana at 12 Newsand is now a meteorologist at Arizonas Family, where he has also been a news anchor. Not that you'd know it from talking to him. "Our deepest sympathy is shared with Christopher's loving family and close friends," his co-workers at ABC 33/40 wrote in a statement. At 14 years old, Kent took his fathers car for a joy ride and crashed it. None of this macho persona about him. In his hands, the questionings and yearnings of a boy of twelve seem altogether natural. 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. I waited at home expecting to get in big trouble from my dad, Kent would say. Fact-checking from VERIFY, sports news from LockedOn and original exclusive content are also available to stream live and on demand on 12 News+. Probably not, but it also illustrated how Ford accurately captured the emotions of viewers. Throughout his career, Dana covered stories on Phoenix airwaves from Oklahoma Citys terror explosion site, the Los Angeles riots, and Barry Goldwaters living room. Hundreds or even thousands of kids found a permanent home because of Kent Dana, Shumway said. Investigations | 12news.com I-Team Investigations Renovations gone wrong: Valley customers owed millions after botched jobs The man is not listed as the owner of the companies he represents. Dana spent 30 years on local television, beginning his career at KHOOL-TV in 1974, spending 25 years at 12 News (KPNX) and then moving to KPHO-TV. "I just think his story is a fascinating Arizona story," said Joe Dana, a reporter for 12 News. Rainson, a meteorologist, moved to 12 News in April, after working part-time at Arizona's Family for nine months. The app is FREE and does not require any credit card information. People are really nice about it, too. And can you do all that and look good at the same time? Judge Roslyn Silver outlined the changes she plans to impose on the Arizona Department of Corrections to remedy its constitutional violations of prisoners rights. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. People camping on the block were able to move their belongings to a staging area during the cleaning. We rode our bikes everywhere, up and down Central Avenue all hours of the day in the summers, said Kents younger brother, Reed. ", "Theres no question why he was so beloved," she said. Quite famously, Reasoner was not thrilled with the woman who shared the desk. The man did not seem made for hugs or chatter. Perhaps most mortifying: She was one of the "chicks at 6," along with Heidi Foglesong at Channel 3 in the early '90s, when the two served as co-anchors. My father once turned down a very lucrative contract to move to Los Angeles because he thought that wasnt the best environment. I took control of my future and ended the professional toxicity which was bleeding into every aspect of my life. He came to Arizona to retired after a long, illustrious career in Philadelphia. That dream was to work at a national network, a dream McLaughlin achieved when he became theweekday chief meteorologist for MSNBC and Sunday meteorologist on NBCs Weekend Today in 2004. Channel 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Lisa Colagrossi Dies at 49 . 12 News KPNX's. Hes connected to the community; after all, hes an Arizona native whose father, Joe Dana, was a Phoenix media personality from the 30s to the 50s (KPNX anchor Joe Dana, Kents son, shares the name). He died Tuesday, April 19. Dana, 80, worked at three. Debruhl now covers Barrett Jackson car auctions and IndyCar. Example video title will go here for this video, What to watch for as Kevin Durant makes his Phoenix Suns debut in Charlotte | Locked On Suns, Kevin Durant, Monty Williams speak about Durant's expected debut for Phoenix Suns vs. Hornets tonight, Body found by ADOT worker near I-10 in Buckeye, Winter storm updates: ADOT advises against traveling in 'extreme weather conditions', Nieve para el norte de Arizona y lluvia en el valle debido a la tormenta invernal, Propietaria del restaurante 'Breakfast Bitch' en Phoenix fue sentenciada a 51 meses en una prisin federal. Longtime Sky 12 pilot Jerry Foster with a child. Shumway credits Kent for identifying her talent while she was an intern at 12 News and ensuring management hired her after college. He credits Dana with helping him find the confidence to pursue the network job. . 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. Well-deserved. She was a constantly engaging presence, and not afraid to show her emotions. I figure when it's all over, it's all over.". Josh Elliot was abruptly fired by CBS News on Monday and escorted out of the building by security. He began an impressive streak of anchoring the evening news from 1979-to 2004. Channel 10: 1971-1979;Channel 12: 1979-2004;Channel 5: 2005-2009. 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. ABC Has Canceled 'Mixed-ish' After Two Seasons, 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 50+ Years on Air in ABC Pandemic Special '50 Years of Sunny Days'. 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. Tolleson group home stabbing raises questions. He came back to Phoenix in 2006. He was quick to credit the producers and photographers who work alongside him. Can you deliver it with sincerity and authority? Ayear later, she reflected on her decision: "I wonder how did I ever stay up until 10 p.m. and look perky?" As of 2023, she is around 34 years old. Close calmed him down and read the incoherentstatement himself. Foster now spends his time living out the summer months in his Show Low home and in the Valley during the winter months. Thats all that needed to be said.. In the '70s and '80s, he was a comfortable elder statesman of local TV. 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. The news about the 45-year-old reporter's sudden death left his colleagues and fans devastated. That kind of charm is surely missed on the airwaves. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. He died Tuesday, April 19. AASK would tell us they would get hundreds of phone calls after a story aired and maybe it wouldnt work for that child, but it would develop a relationship for parents to adopt someone else.. "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. "It happens a lot," Dana said about being recognized. For instance, his son Joe said, At Channel 5 they called him The Pope. They just considered him the one you go to.. The man is not listed as the owner of the companies he represents during projects, so he has never been disciplined by the Registrar of Contractors. (Shutterstock) PHOENIX, AZ Longtime Phoenix news anchor Kent Dana died Tuesday at the age of 80. Here's where, 'It is evidence that the Hopi clans traveled through there': New documentary explores real history of the Grand Canyon, From selling mops to selling cars: The story of Sebastian Ibaez, Durant expected to make Suns debut on Wednesday vs. Hornets, Failing at polls, election deniers focus on state GOP posts, How credit scores are evolving to improve access to credit, Supreme Court student loan case: The arguments explained, Authorities identify man who died in custody of Phoenix police Saturday evening. Please select a region to stay informed on the latest local news via news12.com. As a co-anchor he was sharing and very supportive. The National Suicide Prevention Line is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 in English and 1-888-628-9454 in Spanish. Example video title will go here for this video. The police found Christopher's body at his Scout Trace residence in Hoover, Ala., after receiving a phone call at around 8:13 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Twitter.com/randy_cordova. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. As an elementary student, he recalled walking to school with his brothers and sisters through a dairy field where Park Central mall now sits. Family and friends honor the legacy of former 12 News anchor Kent Dana during a Celebration of Life ceremony this morning. KPNX-TV, also known as 12 News and . ", A lottery ticket worth more than $350K was sold in Arizona. Then his signs were stolen, I couldn't believe my eyes," Paulin said. "He will be missed.". La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500. Award-winning investigations and consumer reporting that helps Arizonans recover hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. I was so ecstatic I promptly ran to third base, Kent used to say when retelling the story. Maureen Kyle spoke with an expert on how to help teens. It was at the prestigious institution that he met his wife, Laura. Kent Dana, thats who. Copyright 2023 Distractify. He went on: The bottom line is I made this decision myself. May his memory be for blessing.". The guy is genuinely talented. One game I finally got a hit. His book is available on amazon.com,. Everyone liked him. 2023 www.azcentral.com. The ability to find a good story and to tell a good story. The Phoenix journalist, 80, passed away on April 19, his son and News12 reporter Joe revealed. 12 News+ features the latest breaking news and weather, plus daily talk shows, coverage of your favorite sports teams from Locked On, fact-checking from VERIFY and the latest trending stories from Daily Blast Live. He always felt like local TV news provided a connection to the community that was unlike anything else, said Joe Dana. "AASK would tell us they would get hundreds of phone calls after a story aired and maybe it wouldn't work for that child, but it would develop a relationship for parents to adopt someone else.". Distractify is a registered trademark. The stories brought out Kents inner child as he would banter and laugh with kids. But it happens a lot. He often slipped away from the newsroom between evening newscasts to catch his children in ball games, dance recitals and school performances, even if he could only stay for a few minutes. 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. 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. . Leonard was 92. Thats the beauty of real chemistry. Cody has worked as an anchor on the NBC affiliate's morning. Kent Dana. One camp looked at his solid news credentials and his sharp interviewing skills; he was able to badly fluster then-Governor Evan Mecham in a 1987 interview that would have gone viral, had such a concept existed then. She kept my life in order, Kent said at the time. 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. "He was so humble. 2023 at 12:12 PM MST | . Diving into what doctors and experts say about supplements, from collagen to apple cider vinegar and fish oil. Dana was probably the most influential anchor in Phoenix since Close. Oct 29. But she is also intelligent and a hard worker, and when she decided to focus on TV news, she proved to be a natural. Some anchors have runs that just go on and on. They also helped viewers see the humanity of foster children. VERIFY looks into different claims surrounding cold weather from if it can make you sick to what's best for your car. He came to Arizona to retired after a long, illustrious career in Philadelphia. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. #. American Diabetes Association Alert Day Are You At Risk? Kent had so many friends he would bring home. At the time, their meetingwas cast as a potential conflict of interest. For more stories that matter,subscribe to azcentral.com. aPhoenix GazetteTV critic thoughtfully wondered in 1995. Mary Jo West became the first female TV anchor in Arizona. The anchors were unapproachable. Free Zoom meeting about divorce lawyers in Glendale. Colleen Sikora is a reporter/multi-skilled journalist for 12News. Kent was anything but. Dana is a member of the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame, won several Emmy awards and received the Rocky Mountain Emmy Governor's Award in 2018. I love someone with a witty mind. Emmy Award-winning reporter and news anchor Christopher Sign died on Saturday, June 12, 2021. A collection of stories highlighting those who are changing the lives of students. Shumway and Dana worked together for several years creating the two signature projects Kent was most proud of in his career: Wednesdays Child and Silent Witness. 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. Rick Debruhl as an anchor on KPNX. He launched a weekly variety show on Channel 5, Arizona Caravan, where he delivered news bulletins, sang songs, and hosted musical guests. He purchased the jacket from Sears in 1979 and over the years, it quickly went out of style. Voices, experts and personalities on the right and the left. He has a very lovable personality.. The cause of death was an infection that developed after hip surgery this past winter, according to Dana's family. The problem, according to the judge's ruling, was not the familial DNA search but what Scottsdale investigators did with those results after finding a match. ForCurtis, it's an ever-present mustache. 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. It was more meaningful for him because it was his home.". I never wouldve become who I am without Kent.. Jack Holder, dies at age 101. On the topic of his father, Joe said, "I just think his. PHOENIX A celebration of life is being held for Kent Dana, the face of the evening news in the Valley for three decades, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Dana died on April 19 after he suffered complications from a January hip surgery and passed away surrounded by his family. 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