Former WLEX anchor Sue Wylie has died following a car accident on Tuesday night.
Lexington police say they responded to a crash around 5 p.m involving five cars. Police say three people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The Fayette Co. Coroner says Wylie was taken to UK Medical Center, where she later died.
She worked at the Lexington NBC affiliate from 1968 to 1998. From the station:
In 1968, Sue walked into General Manager Harry Barfield’s office and pitched a midday news show. Impressed with her drive and ability, he hired her to anchor and produce WLEX-TV’s Noon Today program, which is still on the air today.
She convinced the station to purchase its first sound-on-film camera for the show. For the next 22 years, she anchored and produced Noon Today, which blew away the competition and for many years garnered a 60 share in Nielsen ratings.
In 1974, Sue again went to the front office to pitch a public affairs program called “Your Government.” For over two decades, Sue produced and hosted the show, which had a “Meet The Press” format with panelists. Through her efforts alone, Sue could land guests such as Ronald Reagan, Jessie Jackson, Nelson Rockefeller, George Wallace, Jimmy Carter, and various governors, senators, congressmen and newsmakers state-wide. The show made state-wide headlines each week, and Sue’s ability to get the tough guests amazed her coworkers and competition.
Sue created, produced, and hosted other shows on WLEX-TV regularly, including One to One, In Touch, and several documentaries.
Named Assistant News Director for Community Affairs in 1988, Sue was active in a number of charitable organizations in Central Kentucky, including United Way, Alternatives for Women, The Chrysalis House for Women, The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation and many, many more.
While still working at WLEX, Sue used her enthusiasm and creativity to host a morning radio talk show on WVLK until her retirement.