Dayton Legend Retires

We heard about this one from our friends and colleagues at Ohio Media Watch.

They report this morning that local legend and current WHIO-TV anchor Jim Baldridge will retire later this year.

From WHIO-TV's website:

After a broadcasting career spanning five decades, News Center 7 Anchor Jim Baldridge will be retiring from WHIO-TV at the end of August. “I am very grateful to the people of the Miami Valley for welcoming me into their homes, and to WHIO-TV for a long and fulfilling career in one of the most respected newsrooms in the country,” says Baldridge.

Regular reader Rich Emery tells OMW:

I recall when he was a newbie at WHIO, working at that time with Don Wayne (Dayton's version of Walter Cronkite, an avuncular and completely trustworthy news source). Jim stepped into Don's shoes and carried on almost without pause.

Won't be the same down here without him!

Indeed, Mr. Baldridge is a local legend. When you're in the business for 37 years and spend all of it at one station, especially in today's world, thats a huge accomplishment.

We here at TSMW wish Mr. Baldridge all the best, and hope he enjoys his well-deserved retirement.

By the way, current 5:30/11pm anchor James Brown (no, not the music legend) will replace Baldridge at 5 and 6pm.