Dave Ward, the KTRK anchor who has been on the desk for half a century, says he’s not retiring when he leaves the Houston ABC-owned station in December.
The Houston Chronicle reports the station wanted him to stay on, but not as an anchor. Ward said he would be hosting Livestock Shows, Parades and the Fourth of July Fireworks.
“That just didn’t interest me at all,” said Ward, whose contract expires December 31.
“They took me off the 10 p.m. newscast two years ago,” he said. “They were taking me off the 6 p.m. news at the end of this year. So I would not have an anchor role anymore.”
“They seemed like they really wanted me to make my exit,” said Ward. “I always thought I would continue to anchor the news at Channel 13 until I thought I couldn’t do the job anymore. I’m not there yet. My research is very good, and our ratings are very good. They won’t give me an answer why I’m being taken off the 6 p.m. news.”
“Dave is always welcome at the station, and there is always a role for Dave on the air,” said president and GM Henry Florsheim. “We can’t wait to celebrate his 50 years of service with us. I don’t know if anybody has ever done that, and we want to celebrate his success.”