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Al Sanders (March 13, 1941 - May 5, 1995), was
an American,
award winning, television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He helped take a third
place television newscast to first place, where it stayed
throughout his career.
Background
In 1967 Sanders, as Al Gay, worked for radio station KXLW, in St. Louis,
Missouri; in 1969 he changed stations and his name. His new
station: KWK, St. Louis, his new
name: Al Sanders.[1] Sanders
joined WJZ-TV in 1972 and became a news anchor five years later.
Prior to his arrival on Television Hill, WJZ's news was mired
in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts: WBAL-TV was #1, WMAR-TV was #2. Three years
later, WJZ with Jerry Turner, Sanders, Bob
Turk (weather) and Nick Charles (sports) were a runaway #1,
with more viewers than their competitors combined,[2] and
stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s.[3] He
continued alone after Jerry Turner died in 1987 and made Denise
Koch a partner a year Later. Sanders won Emmy Awards in 1993 and 1994 for his
regularly featured specialty report, "Picture This."[4] Sanders
died of lung cancer
at the Johns Hopkins Hospital on May 5,
1995 and he was Replaced by Vic Carter (who is formerly of WSB-TV Atlanta).
Legacy
Each year, the Baltimore Coummunity Foundation awards college
scholarships in the name of Al Sanders for those students who are
musically inclined.[5] In
Baltimore, a section of Druid Park Drive between Park Heights
Avenue and Clipper Road has been named in his honor.
External
links
Notes
Preceded by
Jerry Turner |
WJZ-TV Lead Anchors
1987/1988 – 1995 |
Succeeded by
Vic Carter |
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