Silver Circle
The Silver Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations.
Over the course of their 25-year career, they must also have made a significant contribution to the Midsouth Chapter.
The Midsouth Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Silver Circle members since 1994.
Silver Circle Honorees — 2000-2009
2009
2009
2008
2007
2007
2006
2005
2003
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2009 Silver Circle Honoree
Dave Brown
Dave Brown is Weather Director and chief weathercaster for WMC-TV. In all, Dave's broadcast career spans over four decades.
He began his broadcast career in high school in May 1962, at age 15, as a rock & roll disc jockey at WKBJ Radio in Milan, TN, then worked at WIRJ Radio and WHBQ Radio, all before starting college classes at Memphis State University.
In 1967, Dave became co-host of WHBQ-TV’s wrestling program and co-hosted the wrestling shows at WHBQ and WMC for 35 years. During the 1980s, the program had the highest share of any broadcast in Memphis and was syndicated in over 60 markets.
Dave also hosted WHBQ’s Dialing for Dollars. In 1972, Dave turned to weathercasting at WHBQ and moved to WMC in 1977 as chief weathercaster.
Dave has been in demand for television commercials and industrial training and safety videos. Some of the videos were used worldwide and translated for use in China. In the 1970s, he recorded several training videos to teach the navy of Iran how to run the old ships that the U.S. had sold them.
Dave proudly holds seals of approval from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. The most significant weather events Dave covered include Ice Storm ’94, Summer Storm 2003 (a rare July derecho), the Tornadoes of April 2, 2006, and the Super Tuesday tornadoes of February 5, 2008.
A family tragedy inspired Dave to become a member of MADD and support their nationwide efforts. He has delivered the message against drunk driving in over 200 speeches to civic clubs, schools, churches, and community events in four states. Dave and his wife Margaret have two daughters and four grandchildren.
2008 Silver Circle Honoree
Joe Birch
In May 2008, Joe marked his 30th year with WMC. The Emmy® Award-winning news anchor also produces the Taking Back Our Neighborhoods reports. Joe also serves as host of WKNO’s Smart Medicine, with the latest news from the medical community.
Joe has traveled across America and around the world, including Atlanta for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Italy in 1992 when he met Pope John Paul II, and the People’s Republic of China in 1986.
He has won numerous awards for his charitable and civic endeavors, including, among others, Christian Brothers University’s Maurelian Medal, Diversity Memphis' Humanitarian of the Year, the St. Peter the Rock Award, the Memphis and Shelby County Optimist Respect for Law Committee’s Citizen of the Year, and recognition from the National Council on Problem Gambling. In 2007, the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association introduced the Joe Birch Media Award, which is presented to those who use the tools of communications to enlighten the community.
In addition, Joe has raised nearly $50,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and he is the cofounder and race director of the Gibson Guitar 5K Run-Walk for St. Patrick Learning Center. In the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, Birch visited New York City to deliver $527,000 that WMC collected to help the United Way of New York City. Joe is heavily involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and serves on the Board of Trustees of Christian Brothers University.
Joe and native Memphian Robyn Davis Birch celebrated 25 years of marriage on June 25, 2008. They have two sons, Joseph and Matthew.
2008 Silver Circle Honoree
Patrick Slattery
Pat Slattery, a national award-winning videographer and longtime chief photographer at WSMV-TV, joined the Vanderbilt University News Service in August 2006 as broadcast technical and production manager. He serves the university and medical center as videographer for live shots at VUStar, Vanderbilt's campus broadcast facility, as well as facilitating audio production and shooting and editing stories for external media and VUCast, Vanderbilt's news website.
Pat was on staff at WSMV-TV for more than 24 years (1982–2006), serving as chief photographer for 11 of those years. As chief photographer, he oversaw and mentored a staff of 24 photojournalists, editors, and ENG technicians.
Al Tompkins, former WSMV news director and currently the broadcast/online group leader at the Poynter Institute, said: “There are few photojournalists who have touched as many professional lives as Pat Slattery. The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) turned to Pat to teach at national conferences, where he taught and mentored countless photojournalists, video editors, and reporters. His work stretches from documentaries that saved an inner-city preschool in Nashville to major works shot in the slums of Haiti, the former Yugoslavia, and the glory of the Olympics in Athens.”
Pat came to Nashville from KSL in Salt Lake City, where he was a photojournalist for Dimension 5, a weekly newsmagazine. Pat’s earlier experience includes WHAS and WLKY in Louisville, and WEHT in Evansville. His professional career began in 1978, after graduating in Radio-TV from Murray State University.
In addition to the twenty Emmy® Awards he won while at WSMV, Pat is nominated eight times tonight in the advanced media categories. He is the recipient of hundreds of awards, including the National Headliner Award, the IRIS (NATPE), and National Press Photographers Association awards.
2007 Silver Circle Honoree
Dana Kaye
Dana Kaye was born into an Air Force family in Montgomery, Alabama. As a child, she lived in half a dozen states. Because of her military upbringing, Dana dreamed of being a war correspondent. That dream came true when she was chosen to be an embedded journalist with the 101st Airborne during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She traveled with the 3rd Brigade Rakkasans to Kuwait and then across the border into Iraq the night of the U.S. invasion. Dana sent back more than 50 reports during her 6 weeks with the Raider Rakkasans.
In 2001, Dana also traveled with the Screaming Eagles from Fort Campbell on Assignment: Afghanistan. Dana filed dozens of reports from the war zone, spending the night in foxholes and following troops on long-range patrols into enemy territory. She also covered the conditions in downtown Kandahar, where civilians have lived with war for 30 years. While there, Dana began a campaign to collect school supplies for the children of Kandahar who were eager to go back to school. Because of Dana’s efforts, NewsChannel 5 collected more than 500,000 pencils for the kids in Kandahar.
Dana loved the broadcasting business. Her first job was as a radio traffic reporter in Monroe, Louisiana. There weren’t many traffic tie-ups in Monroe, so Dana moved to Baton Rouge to become a TV reporter at WVLA. She became the station's top investigative reporter before moving to KLTV in Tyler, Texas. In Texas, Dana anchored the 6 and 10 o'clock news and did in-depth special reports. She moved back to Baton Rouge for a couple of years before finally making her home in Nashville in 1995.
Dana was married to District Attorney General Dan Alsobrooks. She had one daughter, 17-year-old Alden Allen.
2007 Silver Circle Honoree
Stuart Grasberg
An expert craftsman who brought passion and focus to his work and sincerity to his friendships — that is the sentiment from coworkers and colleagues in remembrance of long-time WTVI employee, senior producer/director Stuart Grasberg, who passed away July 18, 2006.
Thirty years ago, Stuart was hired as an intern by Geneva Brignolo at WCVB Boston, on the Good Day! show. He joined WTVI in 1985 as producer/director. Many station viewers never saw the face behind the voice, but Stuart was a station fixture with his voice-overs that became a WTVI symbol. Stuart’s generosity, dedication, and love of the arts truly made a difference in the lives of people, but also to the cause of various nonprofit organizations.
Stuart had a passion and a drive for working on community-based initiatives, and the majority of his documentaries and programs connected and educated the Charlotte-area community on arts and culture. Upon his arrival at WTVI, he immediately found his calling. His first show as producer/director was ArtSeen, which aired in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He also served as director of the very popular and highly rated series Carolina Calling, the music show featuring musical legend Arthur Smith. In his most recent role, he was the director of Healthwise, a live call-in medical program.
Stuart was viewed by many as a public servant with a zest for working for the community. He videotaped and produced numerous videos for cultural organizations including the N.C. Dance Theatre and the Arts and Science Council. He was so committed to the Arts and Science Council that he coordinated the station’s employee campaign for 15+ years.
Stuart garnered several awards during his broadcasting career, including five Emmy® Awards for Focus Composite (Ohio Valley Chapter), Charlotte Symphony, Luminous Impressions, Chihuly in Charlotte, and Out of the Ashes: The Story of McColl Center For Visual Art.
You can keep Stuart's work and memory vibrant in our community by donating to the Stuart Grasberg Endowment Fund. Mail your check to WTVI, 3242 Commonwealth Avenue, Charlotte 28205. Make your check payable to WTVI / Stuart Grasberg Endowment Fund. Or you can donate online at www.wtvi.org.
2006 Silver Circle Honoree
Lee Meredith
Lee Meredith is the Vice President and General Manager of WAFF 48, the NBC affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama, owned by Raycom Media, Inc. He is a native of Houston, Texas, and has more than twenty-five years of television experience. He came to WAFF 48 from the Raycom Media television station in Columbia, South Carolina in 2001.
Lee began his career as a news reporter in Texas and later worked as a news producer and executive news producer for several Houston television stations. He served thirteen years as news director at stations in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Chattanooga. In addition to his television career, he worked as an account supervisor for Weekley & Penny, an advertising agency in Houston.
Lee has received numerous honors during his career as a journalist, including a special citation from the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Journalism Awards. The citation was in recognition of his work on a documentary detailing the plight of residents in a decaying, inner-city neighborhood. His news operations and newscasts have often been selected as the best in regional competitions.
A graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, Lee also attended the American Association of Advertising Agencies Marketing Institute and was a participant in the Leadership Chattanooga program. He and his wife Patti live in Hampton Cove.
2005 Silver Circle Honoree
Rudy Kalis
Rudy Kalis is the sports director at WSMV-TV in Nashville and has been a sports reporter and anchor at WSMV since August of 1974.
He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent four years in the U.S. Air Force as a military policeman, and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Broadcasting. He came to Nashville after spending two years at WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
At Channel 4, he's won 4 Midsouth Regional Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Sportscast and Commentary. He won a National Iris Award for outstanding locally produced documentary, and he has been voted the Outstanding TV Sportscaster in Nashville 12 times by Nashville Scene magazine. He has also won the AP Award for Outstanding Sportscast in the state of Tennessee 12 times.
His hobbies include golfing, playing basketball, and working outdoors. He is on the board of directors for the Jason Foundation to Prevent Teen Suicide. Rudy is married to Leigh and has two daughters, Leah and Jennifer.
2003 Silver Circle Honoree
Karen Adams
Karen Adams is the 50th inductee into the Midsouth Silver Circle.
She began her broadcast career over 25 years ago at WGHP as a camera operator. She has worked in almost every department in the television station, including operations, news, creative services, sales, programming, community service, and marketing. In March 1997, with 20 years' experience, she was named Vice President and General Manager.
When WGHP switched from ABC to Fox in September of 1995, Karen oversaw all the marketing efforts, resulting in one of the most successful affiliation switches in the country. In her role as general manager, she expanded WGHP's local news from two hours a day to six and a half hours. She launched Fox 8 Friday Football, Rich Brenner Sports Sunday, Fox 8 Hoops, and successfully launched NFL, Major League Baseball, and NASCAR on Fox 8.
Community involvement has been a big part of Karen's commitment as a local broadcaster. She started Fox 8 Gifts for Kids and the Fox 8 Holiday Concerts fourteen years ago. She also brought The Big Sweep to a statewide waterway cleanup, expanding it from a beach cleanup.
Karen serves on the boards of The Salvation Army and Brenner Children's Hospital. She has also been deeply committed to Operation Smile, Make-A-Wish, and Race for the Cure, and is an advocate for literacy.
She received an Emmy® for Fox 8 Gifts for Kids and received two Take Pride in America awards from President George H. W. Bush on two occasions at the White House. A graduate of High Point University, Karen has lived in the Piedmont for almost 30 years.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Tom Suiter
A native of Rocky Mount, Tom earned a bachelor's degree in history from Erskine College in 1971. After graduation, he joined WRAL and has spent his entire career there. He has been sports anchor since 1981. That year, Tom began his Extra Effort Award, recognizing outstanding high school student-athletes who must not only demonstrate extra effort in sports, but also do well in school and earn the respect of coaches, teachers, and students alike.
For ten years, Tom has covered high school football with over a dozen photographers who blanket more than 24 counties to bring viewers Football Friday, a comprehensive high school football wrap-up.
Being in the midst of ACC basketball country, Tom and the WRAL sports team have put together a monumental number of ACC Tournament specials and NCAA Final Four specials.
Tom’s unique delivery, extensive sports knowledge, and genuine love of amateur athletics have earned him dozens of awards through the years. They include numerous UPI, AP, and RTNDA honors, and three Emmy® Award nominations. In 1986, Tom won the Regional Media Award, and in 1987, the Statewide Media Award from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. In 1990, he was named Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscaster and Sportswriter Association.
Now in his 30th year of broadcasting, Tom’s viewers still expect enthusiasm, knowledge, highlights, and accuracy.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Charlie Scott
A Nashville native, Charlie returned home after serving in the Korean War and graduated from the Tennessee School of Broadcasting in 1953. He began his broadcasting career at the age of 23, working for WSIX Radio and WSIX-TV (later WNGE, now WKRN) in Nashville. Charlie served as a staff announcer and host of the Tennessee Hay Ride country music show. He also was the announcer for singer Pat Boone's nightly show on WSIX, at a time when the famous entertainer was relatively unknown.
Charlie moved on to news and deejay positions at Nashville radio stations WKDA and WMAK, eventually becoming news director for WLAC Radio from 1956 to 1962. From 1957 to 1962, Charlie covered the Tennessee legislature as a member of the Capitol Press Corps. And in 1957, he began Nashville's first broadcast traffic reports from the 31st floor observation deck of the new Life and Casualty Tower, at that time the tallest building in the Southeast.
Charlie's outstanding moments include reporting the 1957 Nashville school integration racial violence; the 1960 downtown Nashville lunch counter sit-ins leading to desegregation of public facilities; live coverage of a 1960 24-hour hostage standoff at the Tennessee State Prison; and discovery of the fast food serial killings in Clarksville in 1994 and in Nashville in 1997.
Charlie rejoined WSIX Radio and TV in 1962. After working in radio and television simultaneously, he moved to television exclusively. In 1983, Charlie became a television news assignment editor for WKRN. His love of news kept him at the assignment desk, and after 48 years of service, he now works weekends only.
Among Charlie's many awards are numerous Associated Press honors and two Emmy® Award nominations for his coverage of the deadly Franklin-Brentwood tornado on December 24, 1988.
Recognized as an industry pioneer, Charlie's community involvement includes working early on with Handicappers of Nashville as well as a cherished philanthropy — the American Legion's Parade of Pennies. Since 1962, that campaign has provided holiday assistance and disaster relief.
Colleagues refer to him as a living legend of the television newsroom, and hail him for his enthusiasm, loyalty, and dedication. "I just went to work and did my job," Charlie said. "I did the best I could."
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Charlie Lewis
Charles has worked in the production department of Nashville Public Television (NPT) for the past 37 years. Previously known as WDCN, the station changed its identity to NPT on February 22, 2000, with corresponding call letters WNPT.
After attending MTSU, Charles began his career at NPT in 1964 as a camera operator, and was promoted to crew chief, followed by the positions of producer/director, senior producer/director, and acting production manager.
Charles is senior producer of Tennessee Crossroads, the highest-rated locally produced magazine program in the public television system. Tennessee Crossroads travels the highways and byways of Tennessee, highlighting the personalities, crafts, places, foods, and events that make Tennessee special and its character unique. Since 1987, the program has painted a vibrant, active, and changing portrait of Tennessee that explores the heritage and diversity of the state.
As producer/director of numerous productions throughout his career, Charles exemplifies versatility and creativity in his works. An outstanding example is What’s New - Moon Shots, the first color film produced by NPT, where he was the photographer, editor, and director. Charles was the director/editor of Hank, a documentary on the life of Hank Williams, which won the SECA Program of the Year award in 1977. He has also directed numerous auctions, pledge drives, and instructional programs.
Charles received two nominations for Midsouth Regional Emmy® Awards — one in the category of Animator for Tennessee Crossroads Open, and a second nomination in the category of Information/Instructional for Art Hysteria: The African-American Experience in Painting.
Described by his colleagues as the “go-to” person, Charles is a dedicated public television professional who is respected not only for his creativity, but also for his calm demeanor and his willingness to always go the extra mile.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Don Griffin
After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1972 with a degree in pre-law and political science, Don began his television career at WCCB, Charlotte. He moved to WRAL, Raleigh, in 1976, where he was a consumer reporter and weekend anchor.
Don joined WSOC, Charlotte in 1982 as a reporter. One year later, he became the Action 9 consumer reporter. He mediates disputes between viewers and merchants. Don cuts through red tape and often gets instant action. And he has righted wrongs committed by government agencies. Action 9 receives 2,000 complaints a week from viewers in the form of letters, phone calls, emails, and faxes.
During his time at WSOC, Don has solved an estimated 2,200 problems on the air. He has helped people recover money from unscrupulous businesses, and his warnings about scams have helped untold numbers of viewers save countless dollars. Some examples of his successes include: a builder who spent about $40,000 to dig up debris that had been buried 30 years before because of an Action 9 investigation; the City of Concord correcting a flood plain problem after a homeowner complained to Action 9; and getting records transferred within a day for a girl attending the North Carolina School for the Deaf who wanted to transfer to a high school near her home.
Don has also anchored newscasts and news specials. In 1991, Don was among the first reporters on the scene of a deadly school bus accident that killed three children. His steady, accurate reports helped viewers understand the complex issues involved in this tragedy.
Among his honors are two Unity Awards from Lincoln University of Missouri — one for the Awakenings magazine show, and the second for hosting the annual Teen Job Exchange, which matches teenagers with employers looking for summer workers. Don’s work on Teen Job Exchange also won a national award from the Community Action Network, plus regional awards from the South Carolina Associated Press and the RTNDA of the Carolinas.
In 1991, Don won a fellowship grant to Duke University, and he won an Unsung Heroes Award in 1992 from Charlotte Focus on Leadership.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Adrian Gibson
Adrian started his broadcast career in radio in 1952, working as a disc jockey in Fort Payne. He then became an announcer for football, basketball, and baseball games. Adrian credits his play-by-play commentary as the best teacher early in his career, helping him learn how to think quickly on his feet.
Adrian got his start in radio news in the early '60s, then moved to Huntsville and WAAY Radio in 1968 as news director. Until this time, Adrian had been the man behind the voice everyone had grown to trust. In 1971, Adrian got a chance to put a face with that voice when he joined WAAY-TV as news director, anchor, and reporter.
Then, after 12 years of helping to keep the Tennessee Valley safe and informed, Adrian completed his news background by joining the weather department as a reporter and anchor.
When asked the single most important news/weather event in his career, Adrian quickly points to the 1974 tornadoes. As part of an outstanding weather team in the Valley, Adrian credits his station’s advanced technology (new radar) and forecasting experience for saving so many lives. He received a letter of thanks from then-Governor George C. Wallace on behalf of the people of Alabama.
There's no doubt that in Adrian's 42 years of broadcasting, he's been a constant source of important news and weather information — and a person everyone in North Alabama has grown to depend on… and that's what makes him most proud.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Rennie Corley
Born Reynard Alton Corley in North Augusta, South Carolina, Rennie started working as a youngster, bagging groceries and helping his grandfather deliver steel. After high school, he headed north to attend Clemson.
While still a student, Rennie’s incredible 43-year broadcasting career began with a 1957 newspaper ad which led him to WRDW, where he did everything — sweeping the studio, running camera for pro wrestling, and a role in Hippity Hop, the station’s live puppet show. In the early ’60s, Rennie honed his sales skills at Sears and J.C. Penney, then went to WIS in Columbia, South Carolina, where he doubled the station’s sales revenue. He moved on to WTOL Toledo, WSFA Montgomery, KETV Omaha, back to WRDW, and then to WMAR Baltimore, where he became vice president and assistant general manager.
In 1979, Rennie became general manager of WXII Winston-Salem. Under his leadership for two decades, the station rose to news leader in the market. As important, however, is the fact that Rennie is admired and beloved by those who worked alongside him. He considers using the resources of a television station to improve the community to be his greatest accomplishment.
Rennie’s record of public service is phenomenal — serving as an officer or advisor on an incredible 40 boards of directors, taking a hands-on approach to making a difference. His community service awards, too numerous to list, include the Humanitarian Award from the Arthritis Foundation. His efforts raised over $12 million for the March of Dimes, who named Rennie the Volunteer of the Year in 1998.
Rennie is also the proud recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, and currently serves as a consultant to the organization.
2001 Silver Circle Honoree
Rich Brenner
Rich’s enthusiasm and genuine love for his craft come through day after day. His involvement and commitment to the public reinforce his dedication.
Born in Merchantville, New Jersey, Rich has held a variety of jobs in the industry as a sports reporter, sports editor for his college newspaper, and broadcast his first football game over the radio with play-by-play reports in October of 1965.
Rich spent the summer of 1967, between his sophomore and junior years of college, in Vietnam as a fully accredited news correspondent for the Courier in South Jersey, representing the collegiate point of view. He graduated from Baldwin Wallace College with a B.A. in Political Science and is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
He began full-time television sportscasting at WLVA (now WSET) in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1975. He was named Virginia Sportscaster of the Year in 1977. Rich has worked at WAVY Portsmouth, WRAL Raleigh-Durham, WMAQ Chicago, and WTVD Durham. He joined WGHP/FOX8 in 1987 as sports anchor. He currently anchors the FOX8 5, 6, and 10:00 News, as well as the weekly primetime Rich Brenner’s Sports Sunday and FOX8 Friday Football, a high school football highlight show for 14 weeks in the fall.
Among Rich’s awards are three Midsouth Regional Emmy® Awards and the National Iris Award.
Rich is very active in the community, contributing to charity work and non-profit organizations. He enjoys sports of all kinds and motorcycle riding, including five cross-country rides with Kyle Petty's Charity Ride Across America. He interrupted his sixth ride to attend today’s celebration.