David Oliver will replace the soon-to-be retired Ralph Hipp at WIBW in Topeka, Kansas.
Oliver will join Melissa Brunner on September 19 when Hipp retires next Friday after 30 years with the CBS affiliate.
“I don’t think words can adequately describe how excited I am to re-join my friends at WIBW, Channel 13.” said Oliver. “I feel like it’s the pinnacle of my 25-year broadcast career, to be able to come back to the place where it all started, to be able to rejoin a team that I hold in the highest regard, to be able to bring news again to the people of Northeast Kansas. It’s a real honor and one that I don’t take lightly.”
Hipp with Brunner
“With Ralph leaving, we had some very large shoes to fill,” said WIBW news director Jon Janes. “There’s no such thing as replacing a legend like Ralph Hipp. He is a truly nice person and an excellent news anchor. You do your best to hire someone who can carry on Ralph’s devotion to good, solid journalism—and we think David fits that standard.”
Oliver is a native of Wichita, who started his journalism career at WIBW as an intern in June of 1996. After graduating from Wichita State, he worked his way up to being the anchor of the station’s 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts before leaving in 2000.
Most recently he was working in public relations for a Denver, Colorado school district. Oliver’s return reunites him with his former co-anchor Brunner.
“I’m excited to have David coming home to be part of our team again,” Brunner said. “We started our careers together. His passion for journalism and compassion for the people will be an asset to our team and to all of Northeast Kansas.”
“It feels like I’m coming home,” Oliver said. “I’m just very blessed to get this opportunity once again.”