Waddell has long, storied TV career
When Gary Waddell signs off for the last time on Aug. 3, he'll leave a legacy as the city's most watched TV anchor.
His 34-year run as an anchor, with the last 32 at KLAS-TV, Channel 8, won't be easy to top.
Waddell announced Monday he was leaving the station during a newsroom gathering.
He arrived in Las Vegas from Chicago in 1971 in a silver 1969 Corvette pulling a U-Haul "with everything I owned in it."
The Kearney, Neb., native spent four years at KORK-TV (now KSNV), first as a reporter and weatherman before moving into an anchor role for two years.
A five-year break from broadcasting followed, with stints in public relations and selling real estate. In the middle of that, he found himself at the epicenter of entertainment history.
Waddell was working as a freelance stage manager for the MDA Telethon at the Sahara on Sept. 5, 1976, when Frank Sinatra orchestrated a surprise reunion of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
The legendary comedy team had split 20 years earlier. "We had no idea Frank was bringing Dean with him," Waddell said.
His biggest career break came when he was recruited by Bob Stoldal, who had joined KLAS in 1970 when billionaire Howard Hughes owned the station.
Stoldal and Waddell had little history before that, but it turned into one of many hiring coups by Stoldal.
Another came when Stoldal hired Paula Francis and paired her with Waddell, starting on Jan. 11, 1991.
Waddell was at the forefront of another bit of history in the early 1980s when, as a co-anchor with Gail Westrup, he went to Fremont Street to cover the Union Plaza's New Year's fireworks show.
That was the beginning of local New Year's Eve TV coverage, he said.
For some time now, "I've been sort of looking and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life," Waddell said. "I've been there a long time and wanted to see what else is out there."
The decision to leave was his, he said. "They made it easy for me. I'm happy about that."
SIGHTINGS
LeBron James, dining with his fiancée, Savannah Brinson, and U.S. teammate Chris Paul and his wife, Jada, at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday. James popped the question to his high school sweetheart at New Year's. She's sporting a sparkler reportedly worth about $300,000. They have two sons, 11 and 4. ... Former Sheriff Ralph Lamb, being interviewed on the CBS morning show Tuesday during the "CBS Buzz Tour" stop at Red Rock Resort. Las Vegas was one of 60 stops for the bus. CBS has been heavily promoting the new fall show that's based on Lamb's life. ... Former world heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks, celebrating his 59th birthday at the Jay Bolan Acoustic Retro Rock Show at the Four Queens on Tuesday. After the show, he stayed around to take photos with guests and employees. Spinks, whose birthday was Wednesday, shocked the world on Feb. 15, 1978, when he beat Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas. He moved to Las Vegas in the past year. ... Rick Moonen of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay was featured on a special Alaska edition of "Dan Rather Reports" on Tuesday. Moonen, an activist for sustainability of seafood, told Rather, "I refuse to put on my menu anything that's on its way to extinction." The report is on YouTube.com.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Prince Fielder won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby. His whole family was there, including his lovely wife, Princess Fielder. By the way, Prince Fielder is second-in-line for the throne behind Queen Latifah." - David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
