In an interesting twist, Kansas City’s NBC affiliate KSHB has announced the retirement of one sportscasting legend, who will be replaced by another KC legend.
Jack Harry, who was never shy about giving his honest opinions on athletes and teams over the years, will retire as the station’s Sports Director June 30 after coverings sports for more than 40 years.
He will be replaced by Frank Boal, who spent 28 years at rival station WDAF until joining 41 Action News in 2010. The two were once friendly competitors and then blended perfectly together at the Scripps Howard station. Boal will begin his new duties July 1.
Harry was named sports director at KSHB in 2002 and has won numerous awards for broadcast journalism, having been inducted as a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Chapter’s Silver Circle in 2011.
Prior to joining KSHB, Harry was Sports Director at KCTV where he had served in the position since 1978. Ironically, in the early years of his career, he served as Sports Director at WDAF, a position he held from 1970-73. He started his broadcasting career in Quincy, Illinois, working as a disc jockey for WGEM and as Sports Director at KHQA-TV.
In 2005 Harry received the Joe McGuff ”Sports Journalist of the Year” award, the most prestigious sports media award in Kansas City. McGuff was a long-time sports editor at the Kansas City Star.
AN END OF AN ERA
It’s the end of an era.
Jack harry was one of the few sports anchors who told his audience what they needed to know and not what they wanted to know.
In a town were guys like Dave Stewart bragged about having Chiefs season tickets, Harry was one of the few who constantly kept the two local pro teams and the local college teams’ feet to the fire.
It’s the end of an era in Kansas City. I’m sure the next 41 sports anchor will be 25, blonde and attractive.
I wouldn’t describe Frank Boal as a blonde and attractive, but after he leaves it wouldn’t surprise anyone if his replacement looks like that!