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June 07, 2005
NewsChannel 9's Mary Ellen Locher announces retirement
We received this news today:
WTVC Television today announced the retirement of award-winning NewsChannel 9 co-anchor MaryEllen Locher. MaryEllen and her family released the following statement:
Dear Friends,
The time has come for me to announce a life change. Due to the requirements placed on me by my fight with cancer, I am announcing my retirement from WTVC effective June 17th. As anchor and reporter for NewsChannel 9, I have enjoyed many exciting and rewarding experiences, but more than that, I feel like my work has given me the chance to add to the good in our community. I will be forever grateful for the many wonderful viewers and colleagues that my career put me in touch with.
To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. Now is the time for me to be with my family and my closest friends. The cancer is still present, and I am receiving hospice care at home. Through all, I keep my faith in God and in His power to heal me completely. Your prayers for full recovery have sustained me thus far. I ask that you continue those prayers as I enter this new period in my life.
Thank you all for the many ways you have blessed me and my family, and best wishes to my many friends at NewsChannel 9.
Sincerely,
MaryEllen
The effective date of MaryEllen’s retirement is also her 20th anniversary at NewsChannel 9. She began in 1985 as Chattanooga’s first full-time health reporter, and as the community’s faith and trust in MaryEllen’s abilities and integrity grew, she was promoted to 6 o’clock anchor in 1988.
“MaryEllen is truly beloved by all television viewers in the Tennessee Valley. She has the respect, friendship and admiration of all of her NewsChannel 9 associates. We miss her, but understand her need to focus on what is most important to her now,” said Mike Costa, WTVC Vice President and General Manager.
During her career at NewsChannel 9, the station benefited greatly from her hard work and success. MaryEllen won awards for Best Newscast, Best News Team, and Best News Series Reporter by the Tennessee Associated Press. Viewers responded by keeping NewsChannel 9’s newscasts top rated.
“MaryEllen’s contributions to the success of our news operation are clear. Her ability to communicate the humanity of our stories set a standard in our newsroom. Our challenge now will be to build on the foundation she leaves us,” said Tom Henderson, WTVC News Director.
MaryEllen has battled cancer since its first occurrence sixteen years ago. Her personal experiences with the disease have influenced her civic commitments. She founded the not for profit Hats from the Heart program, giving free hats to cancer patients onsite at cancer treatment centers. MaryEllen also founded MELS fund, which is short for the MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Fund. This non-profit organization provides endowment money to public colleges and universities for children who have lost a mother to breast cancer.
MaryEllen most recently was honored by Memorial Hospital with the naming of their Breast Cancer Center as The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial. The goal of the center, according to Memorial Hospital, is to streamline the patient’s experience with the best care possible as expeditiously as possible. It will combine the latest in technological and clinical advances with an emphasis on the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Construction of the center is set to begin no later than July 2006.
| By colrus | 01:24 PM
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