Al Sanders

Al Sanders (March 13, 1941 - May 5, 1995), was an American, award winning, television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He helped take a third place television newscast to first place, where it stayed throughout his career.

Background

In 1967 Sanders, as Al Gay, worked for radio station KXLW, in St. Louis, Missouri; in 1969 he changed stations and his name. His new station: KWK, St. Louis, his new name: Al Sanders. Sanders joined WJZ-TV in 1972 and became a news anchor five years later. Prior to his arrival on Television Hill, WJZ's news was mired in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts: WBAL-TV was #1, WMAR-TV was #2. Three years later, WJZ with Jerry Turner, Sanders, Bob Turk (weather) and Nick Charles (sports) were a runaway #1, with more viewers than their competitors combined, and stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s. He continued alone after Jerry Turner died in 1987 and made Denise Koch a partner a year Later. Sanders won Emmy Awards in 1993 and 1994 for his regularly featured specialty report, "Picture This. Sanders died of lung cancer at the Johns Hopkins Hospital on May 5, 1995 and he was Replaced by Vic Carter (who is formerly of WSB-TV Atlanta).

Legacy

Each year, the Baltimore Coummunity Foundation awards college scholarships in the name of Al Sanders for those students who are musically inclined. {|

Links

• Remembering Al Sanders
• Remembering Al Sanders pt2

Notes