Dean of Las Vegas television news anchors announces retirement

By Paul Takahashi

Monday, July 9, 2012 | 5:31 p.m.

Veteran news anchor Gary Waddell announced his retirement from KLAS-TV on Monday after more than three decades with the Channel 8 news station.

Waddell has served as the evening news anchor on “8 News Now” since joining the staff in 1980. As the longest-tenured anchor in Las Vegas, Waddell has won numerous awards, including being named Best Local Newscast in the Nation by United Press International and being elected to the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Associated Press Radio Television Association Hall of Fame.

“’8 News NOW’ has been an amazing place to have been for the past 32 years,” Waddell said in a statement. “I’ve had a front-row seat on history and have watched this community change dramatically. … This has been an adventure that very few people get the chance to experience, and I leave with no regrets.”

During his years in Las Vegas, Waddell covered some of the biggest local and national news stories, including the MGM Grand fire in 1980 and the PEPCON chemical fire and explosion in 1988. Waddell also served as a roving correspondent, covering the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the first anniversary of 9/11 in New York City in 2002 and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

Emily Neilson, “8 News NOW” general manager, said she was proud to have worked with Waddell for the past three decades.

“He is an excellent journalist who has unselfishly mentored many reporters, photojournalists and producers throughout the years,” Neilson said in a news release. “No one is more committed to this community. No one is a better friend.”

Waddell won’t be exiting from journalism entirely, however. He said he planned to return to the “8 News NOW” team from time to time for coverage and perspective during major events. Waddell said he also was thinking of creating long-form local programming for Vegas PBS, as well.

Waddell, who will anchor newscasts at noon, 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. until Aug. 3, said he was looking forward to the next phase of his life. He said he planned to travel and ride his motorcycle.

“It’s been a great ride, one that I have enjoyed immensely,” Waddell said in a statement. “Speaking of rides, I still have a number of places on my ‘bucket list’ for motorcycle rides and travel, and I plan to do them all.”