Past Presidents
2000s
2013 — 2018
2006 — 2012
2005 — 2006
2001 — 2004
2000
1990s
1999
1997 — 1998
1995 — 1996
1993 — 1994 & 2000
1992
1991
1990
1980s
1988 — 1989
1986 — 1988
1983 — 1985
1981 — 1983
1980 — 1981
1970s
1978 — 1980
1976 — 1978
1973 — 1975
1971 — 1972
1968 — 1970
1960s
1968 — 1969
1965 — 1967
1963 — 1964
1962 — 1963
1960 — 1961
1959 — 1960
2000s
Theresa Johnson
Second Vice President, Trustee & Event Chair
Theresa Johnson is the Vice President of Creative and Partner Services for Recruiting.com and joined the organization in 2005. She has spent much of her career developing employment and job seeker-related content for media outlets across the country. Johnson currently oversees the delivery of the latest recruitment technology and video services designed to help organizations across the country strengthen their employment brand and more effectively attract the right candidates. She is focused on all aspects of employment marketing execution, from brand strategy and recruitment video to copywriting and design. In addition, she manages Strategic Partnerships and has spent much of her career providing various community partners and media outlets with information on the topics of recruitment, employment and job seeker issues.
Johnson is a certified career coach and graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communications at Arizona State University. She earned her MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. In addition to serving NATAS in the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter and Nationally, Johnson sits on the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management State Council.
Jennifer Jones
Treasurer & Foundation Treasurer
Jennifer Jones is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She started her career at ABC 15 News (KNXV) in Phoenix. She began working at CBS 5 News (KPHO) in 2003. Part of that time was spent as the Managing Editor for the Local News Share – a video share between the local CBS (KPHO), FOX (KSAZ) and ABC (KNXV) affiliates. She is currently a Special Projects Producer for Arizona’s Family CBS 5 News and 3TV (KTVK).
Jones began her NATAS career as a college student where she held posts as Vice-President and President. In a professional capacity, she has served on the Board of Governors for the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter since 2001. She was treasurer from 2002 – 2006, again from 2012 to 2018 and has once again taken on the position. She is also the treasurer for the Rocky Mountain Emmy® Foundation. From 2006 – 2012 she held the office of President. Jones has completed the Phoenix Citizen’s Police Academy, the FBI Citizens Academy and is a certified Fire Journalist with the Phoenix Fire Department.
Donna Rossi
Awards Vice Chair
Donna is a reporter’s reporter. After spending four years as a Phoenix police officer, Donna decided to change careers and become a journalist in 1987. After attending ASU and working as an intern at KOOL-TV in Phoenix, Donna moved to Flagstaff in 1989 where she became the assignment editor, reporter and news anchor for KNAZ-TV NBC 2. While working full-time at KNAZ, Donna also graduated cum laude from Northern Arizona University with a degree in broadcast journalism. In 1992, Donna moved to Tucson, where she worked as the weekend anchor and weekday reporter for KOLD-TV CBS 13, for two years. Donna joined KPHO-TV CBS 5 in 1994, and covered many of the highest profile stories in the state. She covered the 1999 sleepwalking murder trial of Scott Falater, the 2004 trial of Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas O’Brien for a fatal hit and run accident and the two Jodi Arias murder trials. Donna also spent two straight weeks in northeastern Arizona during the summer of 2011 covering the Wallow Fire, the largest wildfire in Arizona history. Donna was also instrumental in bringing to the forefront the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in law enforcement with a series of first-hand accounts from officers who trusted her to tell their stories. That series was helpful in getting a new state law on the books to better protect law officers with PTSD. Donna is a past president of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS. She is a member of IFP/Phoenix, a non-profit organization of local film and documentary makers. She has won more than a dozen Arizona Associated Press awards and five Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards. In 2015, Donna was inducted into the Silver Circle. After 29-years in broadcast journalism Donna retired in February 2018. Later that year, she was inducted into the Arizona Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame. Donna currently (2019) works as a Communications Director for a police department in a city west of Phoenix. Her efforts there focus on community engagement and helping bridge the gap between the department and the community. She is also an adjunct faculty member of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Before becoming a police officer, Donna was an employee of Eastern Onion singing telegram service. One evening in January 1980, a customer asked that a “Gorilla-gram” be sent to someone attending a Phoenix Suns game at the Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum. Donna was not working that night, so her co-worker, Henry Rojas, went instead. Rojas’ appearance at the game, especially when he danced to music during a timeout, caused quite a sensation. Rojas was invited back to subsequent Suns’ games and eventually became “The Gorilla.” We will never know what would have happened had Donna been working at Eastern Onion that night in January 1980, but her broadcast colleagues and TV news viewers throughout Arizona are grateful for her career path.
Bob Adlhoch
National Awards Chair
Currently in his 28th season of producing and directing Phoenix Suns broadcasts, Bob has been part of the sports production community in the Valley since 1990. After graduating from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University with a BA in broadcast journalism, he worked for 5 years as a freelance graphics operator and producer. In 1995, Bob joined the broadcast group at Cox Communications where he spent the next six years producing and directing live sporting events—from Phoenix Suns broadcasts to the High School Football Game of the Week—as well as studio programs. He was part of the team behind the channel launch of Cox 9 (now YurView) and was instrumental in the live Thursday night high school football broadcasts that have since become a programming staple for Cox.
The Phoenix Suns hired Bob in 2001 as their TV producer / director. He is now Executive Producer and in his 22nd season traveling the country with the team, overseeing content for, producing and directing game broadcasts on Bally Sports Arizona – as well as posting photos from center court of each NBA arena.
Bob is a past president, national trustee and awards chair of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter and currently chairs the National Emmy® Awards Committee. He is the recipient of multiple Emmy® Awards for producing, directing, writing and graphic design and was selected to the 2009 class of the Phoenix Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.
Drew Sidener
A proud Kansas Jayhawk, Drew Sidener parlayed his 1989 journalism degree into TV news photography jobs in Topeka, Fort Myers, D.C., Green Bay and Phoenix before declaring, “I’ve had enough of television!” Drew was drawn back to the “business” and the exciting and rewarding field of television promotions in 2003 by his ability and desire to shoot, edit and tell a story. Drew was active with the local NATAS chapter in Phoenix before moving to the Denver area. Now after over 15 years in Denver TV promotions, he is a seasoned brand manager and broadcast professional with a varied background in newsroom management, and storytelling as well as both broadcast and web-based marketing solutions. He is constantly made aware by the three women in his household, one of whom is his more successful investigative producer spouse, the other two… his long-suffering daughters Zelda and Harper… that he is the least clever of the bunch. Drew has 24 regional Emmy awards, six Colorado Broadcasters plaques, a dog named Trixie and a proven track record of successful, engaging promotions. He once worked in the White House press corps where he photographed President Bill Clinton with Bishop Desmond Tutu in the Oval Office, Secretary of State Warren Christopher at the Sphinx, the Branch Davidian standoff and chased a murderer to Pakistan.
1990s
Dennis Dilworth
Dennis worked at KTVK-TV3 in Phoenix, Arizona. He filled roles as a Director and News Director. He is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter’s Silver Circle Society and served as president of the chapter in 1999.
Marvin Palmer
Marvin enjoyed a 26-year career at PHX11 and the Communications Office at the city of Phoenix. He worked in various roles in production early in his career, working with a tremendously talented group of peers over the years. He transitioned to the Communications Office as Management Assistant, working with the team of Public Information Officers. Marvin retired from the Communications Office in 2016 and now enjoys his second career as a special education teacher in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. He spends his free time with his wife enjoying the countryside of central Arizona.
Bill Ottinger
Bill serves as Creative Director for Cox Media in Phoenix, Arizona where he oversees the development of multi-platform advertising solutions for Cox clients. His career in media is broad with experience in advertising, broadcasting, local news and marketing and promotion.
Before arriving at Cox, Bill served as the Creative Services Manager for KTVK 3TV, KASW CW6 and azfamily.com in Phoenix. Bill spent 20 years marketing and promoting news and entertainment programming for one of the country’s top-rated independent television stations.
Prior to moving to Arizona, Bill began his career behind a radio microphone in Knoxville, Tennessee. When WTVK TV came calling, Bill jumped into his first role as a news photographer and later became a reporter and weekend weather anchor. He was chosen to be the host of a weekly human interest feature segment and relocated to WKXT (now WVLT), the CBS affiliate. As the “The Tennessee Traveler,” Bill traveled East Tennessee looking for interesting people doing interesting things.
Smaller markets mean everyone does more than one job and Bill took advantage of the opportunity by producing promos for his Traveler segments. With new skills under his belt and a promo reel in hand, Bill landed a writer/producer’s job at KTSP [now KSAZ] in Phoenix. It was there that Bill earned his first Emmy nomination.
Bill is active in his community, serving as the President for the East Valley Boys Service Club and as a member of the Tempe Diablos, a local charity/civic organization in Tempe, AZ. He has also coached youth baseball and basketball.
Bill positively bleeds orange for his University of Tennessee Volunteers where he graduated with a B.S. in Communcations. Go Vols!
Over the course of his career, Bill has received numerous Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards, Promax awards for television promotion, a Phoenix Addy award and was recently inducted into the Silver Circle of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of NATAS.
Jan Jacobson
Jan a journalist, photographer, realtor, author, editor, public relations and marketing consultant, and radio show host. Jan joined the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter in the mid-80's and held various different roles including national trustee. Jan was also awarded the prestigious Governors' Award. Jan graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and began her career as a professional journalist. Jan moved to Phoenix in the 1980's where she quickly established herself as a member of the media.
David Roberts
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John Craft
Gold & Silver Circle Chair
Dr. John Craft has been a friend to NATAS and to this chapter for nearly 30 years. John has served as president, committee chairs, member of the board, and two terms as a national trustee of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences where he represented us on trips to study the television systems in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and China. An undisputed expert in his field, John is often called on to comment on issues concerning the media for radio and television stations, as well as newspapers, throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, China and Mexico. John has taught at The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications since 1973 (making him the senior member of the Cronkite faculty). During that time he has taught courses ranging from broadcast production, to media sales and telecommunication management. Thousands of students have learned from Dr. Craft at the graduate and undergraduate level. and for more than a dozen years he served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Cronkite School Prior to arriving at ASU, Craft taught media courses at Ohio University and at the Hancock County branch of West Liberty State College in West Virginia. As Director of Educational Television Services for the Hancock County Schools in West Virginia, he developed one of the first public school instructional televisions systems in the nation. At Ohio University he served as Director of Instructional Television and worked at WOUB-TV in many creative and administrative capacities. In addition, he has worked as a media consultant in establishing video facilities in schools, cable television systems, hospitals, and for major manufacturing corporations. John is the lead author of a major textbook on American electronic media and a major contributor to a second textbook on corporate video as well as the author of many academic articles. He is also an independent documentary television producer and director. His award-winning documentary programs on Route 66 have been broadcast on public television stations in nearly 80 of the top markets and on The History Channel – as well as abroad. John began his broadcasting career in 1962 at WOUB-TV as a video quality engineer and camera operator. Since then, he has inspired, encouraged and instructed hopeful students and professionals alike – leaving his unique mark on our business. In 2014 The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter inducted Dr. John Craft into the prestigious Gold Circle Society for serving the television industry and the community with distinction for more than 50 years.
Steve Widmann
Steve worked for KPNX-TV Channel 12 in Phoenix, Arizona in the 1980’s. Serving in various roles including SNG/ENG Coordinator and News Operations Manager. He was the recipient of the 1981 Arizona Press Club Award for Television Tape-Film Editing. Steve served a president of our chapter in the late 1970’s.
1980s
Dave Howell
As a Senior Vice President for Wells Fargo Government Relations, Dave coordinates Wells Fargo’s legislative and political agenda in the Desert Mountain region, which includes six states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. He also oversees involvement in state bankers’ associations and other state trade groups, and the Wells Fargo Employee Political Action Committee fundraising and disbursement activities in his service area. Before joining Wells Fargo in 2003, Howell was Vice President of Marketing & Communication for Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management. His professional career has also included corporate affairs at other financial services institutions. Dave worked for twenty years in broadcast journalism, including as Vice President/News Director for KSAZ-TV (then KTSP) in Phoenix, as News Director, WXIA-TV in Atlanta, as News Operations Manager & Assignment Editor, KUSA-TV (then KBTV) in Denver, as Assistant News Director & Assignment Manager at KMGH-TV in Denver, as Reporter/anchor & New Director KHRH-TV (then KTEW) in Tulsa and as Reporter/anchor at KGUN-TV in Tucson. He also served as an Adjunct Professor, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University and is a multi, Regional-Emmy Award recipient. Howell earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Dave has also been active in the community, serving in various capacities with the Arizona Science Center, the Valley of the Sun United Way, Phoenix Public Library Foundation, Audubon Arizona, the Arizona Fiesta Bowl, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Tax Research Association, Phoenix Rotary Club, Oregon Bankers Association, Arizona Business & Education Coalition, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Don Lacombe
Don Richard LaCombe was born on April 11, 1947 to Donald and Inez LaCombe in Seattle, Washington. He attended school at Highline High School in Seattle and graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a bachelor degree in communications/journalism. On March 21, 1981 he married Linda Gatch, Don and Linda made their home in Seattle, as well as Phoenix, Arizona and Richmond, Virginia, before returning to Seattle and later retiring to Olympia. He worked in television for well over 43 years. His first job came at 19, working the switchboard at KING. Nine months later he got the opportunity to be a floor director working on all the shows he used to watch from home. Don’s career includes production manager roles at KING, KOMO and KCTS. At KING, he assembled the staff and created local programming that led the station to receiving the Gabriel award for outstanding television station in the US three years in a row, from 1981 to 1983. Under his direction, the station received numerous national awards for children’s and public affairs programming, including the George Foster Peabody award for the long running weekly series How come? When KING built its current studios, Don designed the production facilities that to this day, allow the station to host successful local and national programs. Don also played a key role in developing the concept, and overseeing construction of Fisher Plaza for KOMO, a $100 million investment to create the modern and flexible digital facility. Don also helped lead the way toward HD broadcasting in production, as a speaker at national forums and producer of videos showing the advantages of HDTV. During his tenure at KOMO, Don guided the effort to bring in significant new revenue to the station by introducing KOMO Production Services, and helping to revitalize Fischer Pathways. In two years at KCTS, Don doubled the local programming produced at the station. Don’s longest lasting legacy however, may be the hiring and mentoring many of today’s leaders in production and station management around the country with a special emphasis on recruiting and developing women and minorities. Don was also received multiple Regional Emmy Awards over the span of his career and was inducted into the NATAS Northwest Chapter’s Silver Circle Society in 2010. During his time, he has given to the industry, he served as past president of the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapters of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and as a Trustee on the national board. He also volunteered with other community organizations over the years, including serving as chairman of the youth commission in Richmond, Virginia. He also served as a Director, Producer and Media Consultant for his own company, LaCombe and Associates beginning in 2011. He enjoyed the role of coach and mentor and was so pleased at the successes of the people he worked with in TV. He, also, loved football, he was a Seahawks fan, but primarily a fan of the sport itself. Don really enjoyed traveling, he and Linda were able to explore every continent during their life together. Don passed away at age 72 on December 17, 2019 in Seattle.
Stephen F. Tripp
Stephen Tripp served as president and co-founder of the Arizona State University committee of the National Academy
of Television Arts and Sciences for the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, before graduating Cum
Laude with a degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1980. Later, he served as Chapter President of the Rocky
Mountain Southwest region, from 1983-1985.
From Grand Junction, Colorado, Steve lived in the frozen tundra of South Dakota for five years. He
moved to Arizona in 1976. (Thankfully.)
Served at Assistant Director in 1981 and then Director of Public Relations, of the Arizona Office of
Tourism from 1982 to 1986. He then worked for several Phoenix area advertising agencies before
establishing his own firm, Tripp Marketing Communications Group in 1991.
From 1991 to 2000 Steve was also the society columnist for the Scottsdale Progress and Tribune
Newspapers. He was also a contributor to Phoenix Magazine, Arizona Highways, Southwest Spirit and
numerous other national travel magazines.
For several years served as Director of Marketing/Director of Franchise Relations & Strategic Services for
Realty Executives International.
Tripp worked for American Airlines after 2011, defying gravity every time he walked across an airplane
threshold.
Steve passed away, unexpectedly, in 2021.
Dave DeBarger
David Michael DeBarger was born on June 29, 1944 in Washington DC. He is the son of Charles F. and Mary W. DeBarger. Dave is married to Cheryl (McGlory) and they have two sons. He received his Bachelor Degree from the University North Carolina in 1966. His career included working at WUNC-television, Chapel Hill NC, 1963-1966, as a production technician. After graduation, he moved to WGBH-television, Boston, MA from 1966-1978, where he served in several positions, including executive producer. Dave moved to KAET-television Arizona in 1978, serving as executive producer until 1983. He then worked for Samaritan Health Services in Phoenix for three years, as Video Production Manager. In 1986, he moved and served as director creative services at WCVE/WCVW, Richmond, VA until 2010. From 1984 to 2017, he also had his own freelance production company, Dard Star Productions. He is a Member National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and served as president of the Arizona chapter from 1981-1983. He has also been a member of the Virginia Production Services Association and the International Television Association. David is now retired in the Richmond, Virginia area. He enjoys sailing, tennis, and camping among other pursuits.
Bill Stull
Bill was born in Los Angeles, California, November 18, 1933, as William Stull III. He was a 31-year veteran of the television news industry, serving at Phoenix NBC Affiliate, KPNX TV, Channel 12, formerly KTAR TV, until 1979. He served there for over 20 years, as a reporter and anchor. Stull is a member of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Silver Circle Society and a regional Emmy recipient. Bill is also a past Chapter President of the organization. Bill passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on December 29, 2000 at the age of 67.
1970s
Basil Andrew
Basil grew up during the “golden age of television” in the NYC metro area. An early memory was being in the kid section of the “Rootie Kazootie Show.” He served as principal clarinetist and vocalist with the U.S. Air Force in Europe Band. During that time, the band performed on German national TV. So when it was time to exit music and the Air Force, pursuing a career in television seemed like a good choice. After 24 years of gray and wet skies in New York and Germany, he decided to find some sun, and entered the Broadcasting program at ASU. While there, he was able to pick up a part time position in production at KTVK-TV, then the ABC affiliate for Phoenix. After graduation, he transferred into the promotion department, and then was promoted into sales. It was during this time he served as president of what was then the Arizona Chapter of NATAS. Prior to becoming president, he served as VP, and at the June, 1987 luncheon, when the glib and entertaining president, Bill Stull, couldn’t attend, the responsibility of emceeing the event fell upon him. Unfortunately, the guest speaker never arrived. Even more unfortunately, it was because he was being bludgeoned to death. That was Bob Crane of “Hogan’s Heroes.” After a few more years of sales and sales management in Texas, Nevada, and Kentucky, Basil wanted to get back to using more of his creative skills. While completing a Master’s degree at the University of Kentucky, he landed a job producing videos for the City of Lexington, KY. This began a career where he was able to develop his talents in every aspect of video production primarily creating informational and training videos. He worked with Fairfax County Schools in Virginia (at the time, 9th largest district in the country) and the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO (2 largest basic training post as well as home of the Military Police, Engineer, and Chemical schools). He became producer/director of video for the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which included diverse agencies such as NOAA,, Census, Patents and Trademarks, and the International Trade Administration. His final position was as branch chief for the video section of Training and Personnel, for the Federal Air Marshal Service, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security. After retiring from federal employment, he moved to the other side of the camera, and was a background extra on “Veep” and “House of Cards” as well as shows for PBS, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. Basil and his wife have now returned to the sunny Southwest and live in SaddleBrooke, AZ just north of Tucson.
Joe Zesbaugh
Joe Zesbaugh served as Station Manager for KAET in the seventies, and owned a sports prodction company in Tempe, Arizona starting in 1978, before moving to Denver in the 1980s. During his time in the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, Zesbaugh served as chapter President and on the National Trustees up until 1999. He served in leadership positions in three regional chapters: Phoenix (now called Rocky Mountain Southwest), Colorado (now Heartland) and New England.
A man of many talents, Zesbaugh has been a Nationally ranked Senior Tennis Player for forty years and served on the Board of Directors for Youth Tennis San Diego.
Ed Cooperstein
Ed Cooperstein was born on May 16, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY to Charles & Minnie Cooperstein. Mr. Cooperstein served in the Army Signal Corp. in the European Theatre during WWII. He was a graduate of Queens College, later receiving his masters in communications from NYU. Mr. Cooperstein was a television director at WATV Channel 13 in New York directing Open End with David Suskind. He then went on to be involved in the creative and business aspect of the television broadcasting industry. He founded and managed WNJU-TV Channel 47 in New York in 1965. Mr. Cooperstein founded KNXV-TV Channel 15 in Phoenix in 1979; and was president of the Arlington Broadcast Group from 1979-1986, supervising in the creation and operation of commercial TV stations in Birmingham, AL, Boston, MA, and Milwaukee, WI. He also served as the chapter president for the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in the mid 1970’s. Ed was married to his wife, Sondra (Sandy) and they had two sons, Jeffrey & Matthew and a daughter, Alison. Ed passed away on December 13, 2006 at the age of 80.
Ira Morton
Ira Morton was an advertising executive, newspaper columnist and author. He was Born May 29, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. Ira began his professional life in the mid-1940s after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign. Within the first decade of his career, he had worked for Time, Inc., the Jones Frankel advertising agency, Esquire and McCall's Magazines, all in Chicago; became a syndicated newspaper columnist writing about the-then "new" medium of television in a column called "Watching All Channels" and had written a book entitled "The Red Grange Story," published by G.P. Putnam & Sons.
In 1952, he married Beryl Schubert. They relocated to Phoenix and in 1961, Ira opened an advertising agency there. He successfully led the agency for nearly 40 years. His clients included John F. Long Homes, Mortgages Ltd., Regal Homes, Fletcher Jones Chevrolet, Bill Luke Chrysler-Plymouth, Fann Toyota, Canyon Ford, Village Inn Pizza and Scott Toyota. For some of these clients, he also appeared in their television commercials that he wrote, produced and directed. He was active in community organizations as well, including the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and long ago, Little League and the North Phoenix Corporate Ministry, a mutually supported interfaith association composed of two synagogues, a Catholic church and five Protestant churches and their clergy. In the 1970s and '80s, he also wrote two regular columns for The Phoenix Gazette: "Moment of Glory," about the accomplishments of sports heroes, and "Yesterday's Headline," about great moments in national and world history.
In 1971, he served as president of the local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and he wrote and hosted a series of informational commercials about the value of television that were broadcast nationally. The tag line of the commercials was "What has television done for you lately? Keep watching; it'll come to you."
Ira finally semi-retired in 2000. In the years hence, he continued providing advertising services as needed for select clients and wrote a column for Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. His warmth, wit and sense of humor were greatly appreciated by all who knew him. Ira passed away on January 4, 2008. He was preceded in death by Beryl, to whom he was married for 50 years.
Jeanne Metzger
Jeanne Metzger (Michael) was born in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of James and Floye Wright. She lived with her family in Phoenix until 1978, when she and her husband Bob moved to Sedona, Arizona. She was married to Bob for forty years, until his death in 1990. Jeanne married Ronald Michael several years later, and subsequently moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2000. Jeanne and Ronald were married for 12 years and resided, in Tucson until her death in 2006. Jeanne graduated from Stephens College in 1947, and worked in television and radio in the Phoenix area for many years before retiring to Sedona. Jeanne also served as spokesperson for Hallcraft Homes for many years. Her image appeared in newspaper ads billboards, and commercials. She served as one of the early presidents of the local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, during the late 1960’s and was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1995. She successfully balanced the passion for her career with her love and support of her family. Jeanne had many interests, including painting, square dancing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
1960s
Bob Ellis
Bob was born on March 2, 1928 and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army. When he was discharged, he visited family in Phoenix and ended up staying to attended Arizona State College (now ASU). He graduated in 1953, with a degree in Speech. That same year he started working at Arizona’s first radio station, KOY, as an announcer. That’s where he met his boss, and future wife, Frankie. They were married soon after and had three children.
In 1959 he went back to ASU, which had just become a university. There, he helped lead the start of KAET, which was launched and went on the air in 1961, as part of National Education Television, supported by the Ford Foundation. KAET became a Public Broadcasting (PBS) affiliate in 1967. Bob was also involved with the Phoenix Television Academy, now the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), serving in many roles, including president. He remained at KAET as general manager until his retirement in 1989. Immediately after his retirement, he accepted a part-time assignment to work in the University Relations Office and eventually took charge of organizing university retirees into a viable force. Not only was Ellis a former staff member, but he also had served on the faculty and thus could represent both groups of retirees. He remained in this role for several years until his retirement.
Bob was inducted as a charter member of the NATAS Silver Circle in 1992 and is a past president of the chapter. He lost his wife in Frankie, in 2020. Bob passed away on March 4th, 2021 at the age of 93.
Robert Davies
Robert ‘Bob’ Davies worked at KOOL Radio & TV (now KTSP TV) for 26 years. Bob’s many television assignments included weatherman, host, narrator, commentator, radio announcer. Fiesta Bowl parade emcee, program director and finally vice president. On the radio, Bob’s many hats included disc jockey and sports coverage of the Phoenix Open and ASU football, basketball and baseball. After KOOL sold, Bob went to work as the Vice President of Community Affairs for Times Mirror Cable, and then on to the Sun Angel Foundation, a booster group for ASU since 1969. Bob served on the Fiesta Bowl board, including being President in 1983. He also served on the boards of Florence Crittenden, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, and the ASU Alumni Association. Davies was inducted in to the Arizona Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter’s Gold Circle Society, where he also served as chapter president in the mid 1960’s.
Hal Metcalf
Hal E. “Hal” Metcalf was born on February 20, 1926 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a World War II, Navy Veteran. Hal was the Managing Editor and Regional Manager of TV Guide Magazine, Phoenix – Tucson. Mr. Metcalf was elected to serve as Arizona chapter president of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in 1963. He was also a past president of the Midtown Rotary Club and the Phoenix Ad Club. Hal enjoyed being in a Dixieland Band, the Saints and did a radio show on KOOL FM radio. He was named the 1965 Phoenix Advertising Man of the Year. Metcalf was a national board member of the American Advertising Federation and director of Region 13 of the American Academy of Advertising. Hal resided in Arizona for 41 years. He was married to his wife Donna and they had two daughters. Hal passed away on August 26, 2000.
Donald Tuckwood
Donald was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1929. He was the program director for KTVK TV Channel 3 in Phoenix in the early 1960’s. He was elected to serve as president of the Phoenix Chapter president of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1961. Don was engaged in 1952, married his wife Helene in 1953 and they had two daughters. They moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1964 where he was the vice-president of KGMB TV Productions. Donald tragically passed away, suddenly after a brief illness, on November 21, 1965, at the age of 36. He was laid to rest in Lake Worth, Florida.
Gene Blanpied
Gene worked for KOOL TV Channel 10, which was later renamed KTSP TV, as an account in Phoenix, from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. He was the first chapter president when the Phoenix Chapter became the Arizona Chapter, the 8th of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from 1961 to 1962. Following his term as chapter president, he served on the Board of Trustees for the National Academy. He was born on August 26th, 1914 in Kansas. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was married twice. His first wife Charlotte passed away unexpectedly in 1963, at the age of 46. They were both involved in scouting with their sons. Gene eventually remarried to his second wife, Eleanor, who passed away in 1983 at the age of 61. She was in the public relations profession and held offices in the Phoenix Press Club and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Gene had four children between his two marriages, two boys and two girls. Gene passed away in 1988 at the age of 73, in Mesa, Arizona.
Homer Lane
Homer was born in New York City in 1923. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1941, and served in the US Army during World War II. He joined the CBS radio station in New York in 1944. In 1946, he and his family moved to Marshall, Minnesota where he began working for KMHL as Program Director. In April 1951, Homer joined KOOL Radio in Phoenix, AZ as an Account Executive. He remained with the KOOL organization until 1986. During his more than 30 years with KOOL he served as Radio Program Director, Radio Station Manager, General Manager of both radio and television, Member of the Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Corporation, Executive Vice President, and was the station’s Chief Charter Pilot. For the last ten years of service he was one of the three stockholders of KOOL with Tom Chauncey and Gene Autry. Homer wrote and delivered the Station Editorials for 25 years. After leaving from management of KOOL-TV in 1982, he continued to manage KOOL radio stations until 1986. Following his services at KOOL, Homer helped in the restructuring of television stations in Tirana, Albania, and in Kiev and Kharkov, Ukraine until his retirement in 1994. Along with his military service, Homer served in the Broadcasting Industry for 50 years. Homer was an outstanding citizen as well as a pioneering influence in the Phoenix area. He was a charter member and president of the Board of Governors of the Arizona Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences where he served several terms. Homer was one of the first members to be inducted into the Silver Circle Society of the Academy in 1992 and later went on to become a Gold Circle Society Member in 2007. Homer also served as a member of the Inspection Team for Radio Free Europe Installations in West Germany in 1963, and was an Honorary Blue Angels Member. In 1970, with his late wife Doris, Homer served as a member of a five-person delegation in Paris to speak with the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) regarding the treatment of POW’s held by both sides during the Vietnam War. Homer was personally thanked by the late Senator John McCain for this work. Homer was an officer and/or member of over 65 community organizations including: Arizona Broadcasters Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, The Rolls Royce Club, and Sigma Delta Chi. He was also a member and past president of the Arizona 100 Rotary Club. In his lifetime Homer received approximately 125 different awards including Volunteer of the Year, Distinguished Citizen of the Year and the Abe Lincoln Award for exceptional Achievement as Broadcasters and Citizens. In addition to these awards, Homer was inducted into the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1982. He also received special citations from the following: United States of America, State of Arizona, City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, US Navy, US Army and US Air Force. In recognition of his services in Washington D.C., the late Senator Barry Goldwater presented Homer with a US flag that was flown over the US Capital Building on our nation’s bicentennial. With a passion for life and love of community service, Homer left a real mark on society far beyond the Phoenix metropolitan area. During the 1970`s he was voted as “the most recognized person in the state of Arizona” in a survey conducted by one of KOOL TV station’s competitors. Homer passed away in 2008 at the age of 85.