History Of DFW Media Personalities Who Ran For Office
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – The Dallas/Fort Worth radio and TV market has a history of radio and TV personalities who later felt called to public service. As we are on the eve of the Michigan and Arizona Republican Presidential primaries, it made me think about this.
Wes Wise was the longtime sports director at KRLD-TV Channel 4 (now KDFW FOX 4).
He was also a sports play by play announcer in the 1940s and 1950s for the Liberty Broadcasting System. But he also covered news as well, including providing on the spot news coverage of the JFK assassination in 1963.
He was known for encountering Jack Ruby the day before Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, and was in the Dallas County Jail when Oswald was shot dead. In 1967, Wes served as a Dallas city councilman and then was elected mayor in 1971. Wise did so much during his term to eradicate the bad image Dallas had nationally after the assassination.
Dale Milford was a meteorologist for WFAA Channel 8 and previously at KWTX-TV in Waco. He was with WFAA from 1958-1971. In 1972, he was elected as a Democratic Congressman from the 24th Texas Congressional District. He served three terms and but was not successful in being nominated for a fourth term. Dale passed away December 26, 1997.
Bill Ceverha was a TV reporter for KRLD-TV and later became a six-term member of the Texas Legislature from 1977-1989, and founded the Texas Conservative Coalition.
Today he spends most of his time as a lobbyist for conservative policies and issues facing Texans. I met Bill one day at lunch at El Fenix's downtown Dallas restaurant. And who was sitting with him? None other than the legendary newsman and former Channel 4 News Director Eddie Barker! I have a story about Eddie as well on our next blog.
TV exposure really does help get the public to know you before you run for office!
See you next time.
