Pete Wilson (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Peter James "Pete" Wilson (April 5, 1945 – July 20, 2007) was an American
broadcaster born in Wisconsin
. For more than 20 years prior to his death, he worked in the San Francisco Bay Area
. He was not related to the former California governor
of the same name.
and a Vietnam
veteran.
http://fox40.trb.com/news/ktxl-072107wilson,0,6546294.story?coll=ktxl-home-1 in 1979 and later at his first stint at KGO-TV in 1983 before moving to KRON-TV
in 1990. In October 2001, he became one of the first high-profile employees to leave KRON after it was announced that the station would be losing its affiliation
with the NBC television network
.
Wilson hosted a talk radio
show on the number-one rated 50,000-watt KGO (AM)
weekdays 2–4 p.m. up until his death in 2007. He was the winner of five Emmy Award
s and a Peabody
. Wilson also co-anchored the 6 p.m weekday editions of KGO-TV
's ABC 7 News.
Wilson raised controversy with comments he made on KGO radio on October 10, 2006 criticizing San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty
, who is gay, for his nonromantic co-parenting relationship with a lesbian friend, sparking calls for Wilson's resignation from four members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Wilson later issued an apology for the harshness of his criticism, while standing by his opinion on such nontraditional relationships.
.
During the last hour of his final radio broadcast, the day before his surgery, Wilson talked about his worries concerning the surgery with fellow KGO talk show host Gene Burns and invited callers to recount their own surgical experiences. It was reported later that Wilson had severe anxiety about the surgery and was hospitalized briefly at Stanford University Medical Center to recover from it. On September 17, 2007 long time ABC reporter/anchor Gill Gross was named to replace Wilson on radio.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
broadcaster born in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. For more than 20 years prior to his death, he worked in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. He was not related to the former California governor
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
of the same name.
Personal life
Wilson was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and a Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran.
Broadcasting career
Wilson's first broadcasting stint was at WTMJ in Wisconsin, followed by stint as news anchor at KTXLKTXL
KTXL, channel 40, is a Fox Broadcasting Company-affiliated television station in Sacramento, California, owned by the Tribune Company. Its studios and offices are located in South Sacramento, and its transmitter is near Walnut Grove, California.-History:...
http://fox40.trb.com/news/ktxl-072107wilson,0,6546294.story?coll=ktxl-home-1 in 1979 and later at his first stint at KGO-TV in 1983 before moving to KRON-TV
KRON-TV
KRON-TV, virtual channel 4 , is a television station in San Francisco, California, serving as the Bay Area affiliate of the MyNetworkTV programming service; the station is owned by Young Broadcasting...
in 1990. In October 2001, he became one of the first high-profile employees to leave KRON after it was announced that the station would be losing its affiliation
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
with the NBC television network
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Wilson hosted a talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
show on the number-one rated 50,000-watt KGO (AM)
KGO (AM)
KGO is a news/talk-format radio station radio with offices and studios in San Francisco, California. Unlike most other American news/talk stations, KGO originates nearly all of its own programming locally. Since 1978, KGO radio has received Arbitron's number-one ranking in the Bay Area...
weekdays 2–4 p.m. up until his death in 2007. He was the winner of five Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s and a Peabody
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
. Wilson also co-anchored the 6 p.m weekday editions of KGO-TV
KGO-TV
KGO-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, based in San Francisco, California...
's ABC 7 News.
Political stances
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Wilson was considered a moderate Democrat to moderate conservative, while others have referred to him as a common-sense liberal. He was not known to immediately endorse the fad or "politically correct" thinking of the day. Contemporaries considered him a journalist and a "traditional" newsman.Wilson raised controversy with comments he made on KGO radio on October 10, 2006 criticizing San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty
Bevan Dufty
Bevan Dufty is an American politician and former Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He represented San Francisco's District 8, encompassing the 71,000 residents of Ashbury Heights, Buena Vista, The Castro, Diamond Heights, Dolores Park, Duboce Triangle, Glen Park, Noe Valley,...
, who is gay, for his nonromantic co-parenting relationship with a lesbian friend, sparking calls for Wilson's resignation from four members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Wilson later issued an apology for the harshness of his criticism, while standing by his opinion on such nontraditional relationships.
Death
Pete Wilson died at age 62 after suffering a massive heart attack while having hip replacement surgery at Stanford University Medical CenterStanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center represents the Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is located at 300 Pasteur Drive in Stanford, California. Stanford Hospital provides both general acute care services and tertiary medical care for patients locally, nationally and...
.
During the last hour of his final radio broadcast, the day before his surgery, Wilson talked about his worries concerning the surgery with fellow KGO talk show host Gene Burns and invited callers to recount their own surgical experiences. It was reported later that Wilson had severe anxiety about the surgery and was hospitalized briefly at Stanford University Medical Center to recover from it. On September 17, 2007 long time ABC reporter/anchor Gill Gross was named to replace Wilson on radio.