Dick Nourse
Encyclopedia
Dick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah
television
news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV
5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor. He concluded his 43-year career with his final newscast on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, a record term for a Utah television news anchor. Nourse's longevity as an American news anchor comes second to that of the late Hal Fishman
, whose career spanned 47 years.
Nourse began his broadcasting career in Grand Junction, Colorado
, at radio stations KDTA and KREX. He attended Mesa College
in Grand Junction and Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah
. Nourse moved to Salt Lake City in 1964 and applied at KUTV channel 2 and KCPX channel 4, but neither hired him. The next day, he applied across the street at KSL channel 5 and was hired.
, recently poached from KCPX-TV, which had long been the leading news station in Utah. Despite its newspaper roots, KSL-TV had long been a ratings also-ran. However, within a short time, Nourse, Welti and James catapulted channel 5 to first place--a lead it has held for most of the last 45 years. The trio would remain together for 26 years until James and Welti both retired in 1991. At that time, they were the longest-running evening news team in the nation.
. He was off-the-air and in the hospital for chemotherapy
treatment. His co-anchor at the time, Shelly Thomas, interviewed him and his doctor. His doctors were unsure of his chances at survival, but Nourse survived the cancer twice and has since been involved in fundraising for cancer research.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV
KSL-TV
KSL-TV, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. KSL-TV is owned by Bonneville International Corporation, which is in turn owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor. He concluded his 43-year career with his final newscast on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, a record term for a Utah television news anchor. Nourse's longevity as an American news anchor comes second to that of the late Hal Fishman
Hal Fishman
Hal Fishman was the longest-running news anchor in the history of American television, having served on-air for Los Angeles television stations continuously between 1960 and his death in 2007...
, whose career spanned 47 years.
Nourse began his broadcasting career in Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
, at radio stations KDTA and KREX. He attended Mesa College
Mesa State College
Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction...
in Grand Junction and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Nourse moved to Salt Lake City in 1964 and applied at KUTV channel 2 and KCPX channel 4, but neither hired him. The next day, he applied across the street at KSL channel 5 and was hired.
Nourse, Welti and James
The birth of KSL's franchise product was on the evening of July 13, 1965. That's the day Nourse was first paired with weatherman Bob Welti and sportscaster Paul JamesPaul James (sportscaster)
Paul James was a longtime play-by-play announcer on KSL 1160-AM radio broadcasts of football and basketball games involving the BYU Cougars from 1965 to 2000.-Early life:...
, recently poached from KCPX-TV, which had long been the leading news station in Utah. Despite its newspaper roots, KSL-TV had long been a ratings also-ran. However, within a short time, Nourse, Welti and James catapulted channel 5 to first place--a lead it has held for most of the last 45 years. The trio would remain together for 26 years until James and Welti both retired in 1991. At that time, they were the longest-running evening news team in the nation.
Cancer
In 1980, Nourse learned he had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was off-the-air and in the hospital for chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatment. His co-anchor at the time, Shelly Thomas, interviewed him and his doctor. His doctors were unsure of his chances at survival, but Nourse survived the cancer twice and has since been involved in fundraising for cancer research.
Career highlights
- In 1967, Nourse toured VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
for one month interviewing military personnel from Utah. In 1997 – 30 years later — he returned to renew acquaintances in that country and attempt to resolve some of his own unrest since the war.
- In 1977, he was listed as one of America's Outstanding Young Men.
- Has served such organizations as the Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
; Camp Kostopulos and the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
- Has been honorary chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy AssociationMuscular Dystrophy AssociationThe Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
and the American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
- In 1989, was honored by U.S. President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
as an outstanding survivor of cancer
- Founded the Dick Nourse Center for Media Innovation at Dixie State College of UtahDixie State College of UtahDixie State College of Utah is a college located in St. George, Utah, United States.-History:...
- Served on various other organizations
Retirement
On Wednesday, November 28, 2007, Nourse signed off the air for the final time. After a career that began at KSL in 1964, Nourse passed the reins to his long-time colleague and former co-anchor, Bruce Lindsay.Past News Team Members
- Nadine Wimmer, Kevin Eubank, Tom Kirkland (2006–2007) Eyewitness News|HD at 10
- Nadine Wimmer, Mark EubankMark EubankMark Eubank is a retired Salt Lake City, Utah television broadcasting meteorologist. He most recently worked for KSL-TV channel 5 Television. Eubank joined the KSL news team in 1990 as their chief meteorologist...
, Tom Kirkland (2002–2006) Eyewitness News at 10 - Ruth Todd, Mark Eubank, Tom Kirkland (1998–2001) Eyewitness News at 10
- Ruth ToddRuth ToddRuth Todd is an award winning Salt Lake City television news anchor. She most recently worked for ABC4 Television. Ruth joined the ABC4 newsteam in December 2001, but first appeared On-Air April 15, 2002 as the station's lead female anchor...
, Mark Eubank, Craig BolerjackCraig BolerjackCraig Bolerjack is an American sportscaster. He is currently an announcer for FOX Sports, working mostly college football and college basketball games.-Biography:...
(1994–1998) Eyewitness News at 10 - Carole Mikita, Mark Eubank, Craig Bolerjack (1991–1994) Eyewitness News at 10
- Shelly Thomas, Bob Welti, Paul James (1979–1991) Eyewitness News Tonight at 10
- Bruce Lindsay, Bob Welti, Paul James (1979–1991) Eyewitness News at 6 & 10
- Bob Welti, Paul James (1965–1991)