SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – For the last four decades, Keith McCord has been a constant in Utah. He shared the good news with a smile, and the sad news as a friend. After 39 years at KSL, he has anchored his last newscast.
It’s a career that really can’t compare. KSL takes a closer look at Keith’s career in journalism, and as an anchorman.
The voice, the presence… Keith McCord was simply meant to be a television news anchor.
“(Growing up) watching Walter Cronkite and all those guys – my parents were avid news viewers and always reading the newspaper – so I was always there, doing it, too,” Keith said.
He started as a radio DJ in Loveland, Colorado. That led to his first television news job at KYCU in Cheyenne in 1978.
“I heard Keith doing radio news in Loveland, Colorado, and my first reaction was ‘What a voice.’ Then it was, ‘Please be a good looking man who wants to work for nothing in the 265th market,” said former KYCU news director Bruce MacCallum.
MacCallum talked about his first meeting with Keith.
“When we met, I was so relieved,” he said. “You looked… sort of ‘actor’ good looks. You wore a suit and a tie, and I told you, ‘You could be the next anchorman in the 265th largest market if we agreed to terms.’ Well the only term was that you would work for $800 a month and thankfully, you agreed.”
Then Keith went onto KRDO in Colorado Springs in 1979. He came to KSL-TV News in Salt Lake City in 1981.
Through the 39 years, Keith has covered it all at KSL. No matter the news, Keith McCord loves being a journalist – and it shows.
Keith’s mustache has been his signature look for years.
“I’ve had this mustache since about 1975. I originally grew it so I’d look older. Now I’m afraid to shave it,” he said.
During his last newscast on Sunday, he announced his first plan for retirement was to grow out his beard.
Keith first anchored weekend news in Salt Lake with Don Olsen.
“I have fond memories of working with you, back in the day,” Olsen said in a prerecorded message that aired during the Sunday 10 p.m. newscast. “You are, without doubt, one of the finest that this market has ever seen.”
Then, there were the women who Keith worked with.
“I’ve had 13 co-anchor wives, as we call them, right?” Keith said. “They’ve all been great. I’ve had a ball working with them.”
Those co-anchors included Carole Mikita, Holly McCullom, Jane Clayson, Shelley Osterloh, Deanie Wimmer, Lori Prichard, Brook Walker, Shara Park, and Ashley Kewish.
They sent messages for Keith during his last newscast.
Carole Mikita
“I am ever grateful for your wisdom on story ideas, scripts and newscasts. Some of the my favorite memories are working together on the weekends. We wish you the best on your future endeavors. Friends forever. Love you!”
Jane Clayson
“You are an amazing storyteller, you were an incredible colleague and teacher to me, in many ways to me, and most importantly, a wonderful friend.”
Shelley Osterloh
“I am proud to be among a group of remarkable women who have all co-anchored the news with Keith. We jokingly think of ourselves as Keith’s work wives, because he has a knack for making each and every one of us feel very special to him.
Deanie Wimmer
“I mean, does anyone dress better than Keith McCord? No. If I wore this ridiculous orange dress, he would still have a hanky and tie to match and make us look like a news couple.”
Ashley Kewish
“That man has a tie and pocket square to match every single color you can think of. It is impressive… (Keith) is a true journalist, always striving for the truth. He has this amazing ability to make you feel like when you’re talking to him, you are one of the most important people in the world. Fifteen years ago, he did that to me when I walked into KSL as an intern. I’ve been lucky to learn from him ever since.”
Brooke Walker
“You know how you remember the outfit you wore on the first day of school because it’s that big of a deal? I remember the outfit I wore the first time I anchored the news with Keith McCord because it was that big of a deal.”
Shara Park
“I just remember the first time that I ever anchored next to Keith McCord on this set that I’m sitting at here. I was nervous, and I was so excited – and I literally had to pinch myself when I sat down next to him, because he has been somebody I have looked up to my entire career.”
Lori Prichard
“You’ve been more than just a colleague. You’ve been a very good friend. You’ve been with me through the birth of my children and the death of my husband. I just love you so much. I’ll see you in retirement. We won’t see you on TV, but I’ll see you.”
This man has credibility – you trust what he says – and he brings a feeling of comfort, that even if it’s bad news, he will walk you through it.
He has always tried, he says, to be a trusted voice. He would never report anything but the truth.
“You know, you just… I’ve always tried to play it down the middle as best I can, but I’ll hear people say, ‘All you (media) people do is lie to us.’ I don’t think I’ve ever lied to anybody on TV,” McCord said.
If we at KSL-TV News were to take a vote about who is the kindest among us, the answer would always be Keith McCord.
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