Wendall Woodbury
Encyclopedia
Wendall J. Woodbury was an American
television journalist and news anchor. He spent much of his career as a reporter for WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, from 1968 until his retirement from broadcast news
in 1992 as a feature reporter. He was known for a series of segments called "Wendall's World" while at WGAL.
Woodbury was born in Belfast, Maine
, to Blaine and Nellie (née Jackson) Woodbury. He graduated from Crosby High School in Belfast before enrolling in the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston
, Massachusetts
.
Woodbury began his broadcast career at several Maine television stations. He initially worked at the Maine Hildreth Television Network before becoming an announcer at WAGM-TV
in Presque Isle
and WABI-TV
in Bangor
.
Woodbury worked as a reporter, anchor and weatherman at WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for twenty-four years from 1968 until 1992. Woodbury was the first television anchor in the United States
to report on the Three Mile Island accident
as the story broke in 1979.
He was known for a series of feature pieces at WGAL called Wendall's World. Woodbury also co-hosted a television show called Susquehanna People with Mary Haverstick and sometimes hosted a dance show called Dance Party, which was loosely based on American Bandstand
. He retired from WGAL in 1992 as a features reporter.
Woodbury owned WJW Video Productions, headquartered in Manheim, Pennsylvania
, from 1992 until his death in 2010. He wrote, produced, edited and appeared in national and local television commercials and corporate videos.
at Hospice of Lancaster County in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, on October 20, 2010, aged 68. His funeral was held at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster. Woodbury and his wife of 48 years, Faith (née Lewis), were residents of Penn Township, Pennsylvania
, located near Manheim
. He was survived by his wife, daughter, grand-daughter, and two brothers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television journalist and news anchor. He spent much of his career as a reporter for WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, from 1968 until his retirement from broadcast news
Broadcast News
Broadcast News may refer to:*News*Broadcast News , the 1987 movie*Broadcast journalism, the field of news and journals which are published by electrical methods...
in 1992 as a feature reporter. He was known for a series of segments called "Wendall's World" while at WGAL.
Woodbury was born in Belfast, Maine
Belfast, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County...
, to Blaine and Nellie (née Jackson) Woodbury. He graduated from Crosby High School in Belfast before enrolling in the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Woodbury began his broadcast career at several Maine television stations. He initially worked at the Maine Hildreth Television Network before becoming an announcer at WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Northern Maine, United States and Western New Brunswick, Canada. Licensed to Presque Isle, Maine, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on the northern section of Mars Hill Mountain among the wind...
in Presque Isle
Presque Isle
Presque Isle may refer to:Administrative subdivisions* Presque Isle County, Michigan* Presque Isle Township, Michigan* Presque Isle, Maine, a city** Presque Isle Air Force Base, former base* Presque Isle, Wisconsin, a town...
and WABI-TV
WABI-TV
WABI-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central and Eastern Maine licensed to Bangor. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Peaked Mountain in Dixmont. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 6 and in high definition...
in Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.
Woodbury worked as a reporter, anchor and weatherman at WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for twenty-four years from 1968 until 1992. Woodbury was the first television anchor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to report on the Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
as the story broke in 1979.
He was known for a series of feature pieces at WGAL called Wendall's World. Woodbury also co-hosted a television show called Susquehanna People with Mary Haverstick and sometimes hosted a dance show called Dance Party, which was loosely based on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. He retired from WGAL in 1992 as a features reporter.
Woodbury owned WJW Video Productions, headquartered in Manheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP code: 17545*Area code: 717*Education: Manheim Central School District and Manheim Central High School-History:...
, from 1992 until his death in 2010. He wrote, produced, edited and appeared in national and local television commercials and corporate videos.
Death
Woodbury died from lymphomaLymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
at Hospice of Lancaster County in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, on October 20, 2010, aged 68. His funeral was held at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster. Woodbury and his wife of 48 years, Faith (née Lewis), were residents of Penn Township, Pennsylvania
Penn Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Penn Township is a township in north central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,312 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.6 mi²...
, located near Manheim
Manheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP code: 17545*Area code: 717*Education: Manheim Central School District and Manheim Central High School-History:...
. He was survived by his wife, daughter, grand-daughter, and two brothers.