Wilma Smith (newscaster)

Wilma Smith (born July 24, 1946) is a former American local television news anchor who spent most of her career in Cleveland, Ohio. She was with Fox affiliate WJW-TV from 1994 to 2013, following 17 years at ABC affiliate WEWS-TV.[1][2]

Wilma Smith
Born
Wilma Pokorny

(1946-07-24) July 24, 1946
Garfield Heights, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationBowling Green State University, 1968, B.A. (Speech, English), 1972, M.A. (Journalism)
OccupationTelevision news anchor
Years active1972–2013
Known forLongtime TV news anchor/reporter in Cleveland, OH market
Spouse
Tom Gerber
​
(m. 1982)​

Early life and education

Born Wilma Pokorny, Smith was born and raised in the Cleveland suburb of Garfield Heights.[1][2] She graduated from Garfield Heights High School in 1964 and then earned a bachelor's degree in speech and English from Bowling Green State University.[1][2] She also holds a master's degree in broadcast journalism.[1][2]

Career

WXEX-TV (1972–1977)

Smith began her broadcasting career in 1972 at ABC affiliate WXEX, Channel 8, in Richmond, Virginia.[2][3] She was the host and producer of a daily one-hour talk show and anchored the 6 p.m. weekday newscasts, which made her the state's first primetime female anchor.[3]

WEWS-TV (1977–1994)

Her broadcasting career in Cleveland started at ABC affiliate WEWS, Channel 5, on July 17, 1977, when she became co-host of Afternoon Exchange, and early evening news/interview program.[1][2] She co-hosted the news program Live On 5 beginning in 1982 and the following year began co-anchoring the 11 p.m. newscast with longtime anchor Ted Henry.[2] Her final on-air appearance at the station was in December 1993.

WJW-TV (1994–2013)

After completing a contractual no-compete waiting period, Smith joined Cleveland's WJW, Channel 8, in 1994.[1][2] The move occurred around the time that the station was switching from being a CBS affiliate to Fox. From 1995 to 2005, Smith was the co-anchor of the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts with longtime anchor Tim Taylor.[1][2] In 2005, Smith and Taylor reduced their schedules to anchoring only the 6 p.m. newscast.[2] In December that year, Taylor retired and Smith began anchoring the newscast with Lou Maglio.[1][2] Their newscast was number one in the local ratings.[1]

On March 18, 2013, Smith announced that she would retire from her 41-year broadcasting career two months later.[1][2] She said, "It’s a lovely gift to be able to leave on your own terms" and "It’s been a wonderful career".[1] Her last day was May 22, 2013.[4][5]

Awards and honors
  • 10-time Lower Great Lakes Emmy Award winner.[1][2]
  • 1999 Silver Circle Award winner (Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards)[6]
  • In various polls, she won several titles such as "Cleveland’s Most Watchable Woman", "Best Anchorperson in Cleveland", "Anchor of Excellence", "Newscaster of the Year", and "Best Anchorperson".[1]
  • Appeared on the cover of Cleveland Magazine five times.[1]
  • Interviewed four presidents.[1]
  • Named "Cleveland’s Citizen of the Year for Community Service and Contribution to the Arts".[3]
  • Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee (class of 1993)[7]
  • Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee (class of 2003)[8]
  • A proclamation from the Garfield Heights City Council and Mayor's office on May 13, 2013.[9]
  • Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame inductee (class of 2014)[10]

Personal life

Smith resides in Lakewood, Ohio, with her husband Tom and their dogs.

References
  1. Loreno, Darcie (March 18, 2013). "Wilma Smith's Big Announcement!". Fox 8 Cleveland.
  2. Dawidziak, Mark (March 18, 2013). "Wilma Smith announced she is retiring, ending her 35-year Cleveland broadcast career". The Plain Dealer.
  3. "Wilma Smith". The Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  4. Dabrowski, Jessica (May 22, 2013). "Wilma Smith's Final Thoughts". Fox 8 Cleveland. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  5. Dawidziak, Mark (May 22, 2013). "Wilma Smith Bids Viewers Goodbye with Emotional Final Newscast". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  6. Silver Circle Award winners - NATAS (Lower Great Lakes)
  7. "Inductees by induction year". The Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  8. "Smith indicted into Cleveland Broadcasters HOF". Cleveland Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  9. "Smith receives official proclamation" (PDF). City of Garfield Heights. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  10. Smith inducted into HOF - Cleveland Press Club
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