After 56 Years, Weatherman Dave Roberts To Retire
PHILADELPHIA, November 18, 2009 -- Earlier today, Dave Roberts announced that he's ready to watch TV, rather than be on it. After 56 years in the business, and 31 years at WPVI, the legendary broadcaster will retire in December. Roberts will host his final Action News AccuWeather forecast on December 11th.
"This is a bittersweet day for the Channel 6 family, and the Delaware Valley," remarked Bernie Prazenica, President and General Manager of 6abc. "Dave has touched so many lives during his broadcast career. He is truly one of the most genuine, authentic people to ever work in the business. Without Dave, Channel 6 would not be what it is today."
His soon-to-be former boss, VP & News Director, Carla Carpenter, said "Dave's retirement is a big loss for us. He's not only a terrific talent...he is a kind and generous man who has the remarkable ability to make each person he works with feel special."
Roberts' longtime co-anchor, Action News' Jim Gardner, said "Dave's reputation for random acts of kindness sometimes overshadows the fact that Dave Roberts is a brilliant broadcaster. As much or more than anyone I've known, Dave knows how to make a viewer think that he's talking to them personally. That's a powerful talent that can't be taught and Dave has it."
Dave Roberts' own move to the Action News evening newscasts came when Channel 6 faced an unexpected tragedy. 1983 brought the sudden death of Action News weather anchor Jim O'Brien in a skydiving accident. Roberts remembers the day. "Jim was killed on a Sunday. Everyone was so shocked...we were all so sad. And I remember how Jim (Gardner) handled it. Having to report the death of your dear friend...it was incredible how he held it together. His strength helped the rest of us get through it."
Dave Roberts joined WPVI on May 15th, 1978. He was hired to serve as co-host of Channel 6's new morning talk show - AM Philadelphia. Roberts was also Action News' weather anchor for the noon newscast. He came to Philadelphia via his hometown station in Buffalo, New York - WKBW, where he was a host of their children's variety program, Rocket Ship 7. Roberts, known as "Dave Thomas" during his Buffalo days, also co-hosted Dialing For Dollars, and did the noon weather with a new, young anchor named Jim Gardner.
Dave Roberts started his professional career while attending college at Syracuse University, where he studied speech and dramatic arts, with dual majors in English and communications. In the fall of 1953, Roberts worked for WAER-FM, and then later at WOLF-AM, both located in Syracuse.
In 1956, Roberts got his first shot at television. His first TV gig was at WBUF-TV, the NBC-owned station in Buffalo, New York.
Along with being a weather anchor at 6abc, Roberts has hosted many local events televised by the station, including 31 Thanksgiving Day parades, the Welcome America July 4th Celebration, and the Philadelphia Flower Show.
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