Civic Dialogue; Dick Nourse

Dick Norris is one of the most recognized faces in television it was in the intermountain west. He's been with KSL television since 1964 and is credited with the distinction of being mounted on America's most watched news anchor. We'll talk with Dig here and take a look at some of the highlights of his long career tonight which on civic dialogue conversation and talking with you dog. Drew. It was 33 years ago when a young Dick Norris took a job with KSL television years after working in radio news in his home state of Colorado. We're going to talk with Dick tonight about his early venture into TV news and ask him how he has managed to be so successful in such a high profile competitive

business. But first though let's take a look at some clips from a video PS that KSL News staff put together several years ago in celebration of Dick's 30 year anniversary with the station North Salt Lake City was never a destination. It was early 964 and he stopped here to visit his brother on his way to a job in Sacramento. The rest he says is history but it's really only the beginning. This is going on already and it's radio and serving western Colorado and eastern Utah. A human to them in that voice. That's what he sounded like as a teenager in Grand Junction Colorado. It's still the greatest. Dick had been anchoring only a year when KSL lured Bob Welty and Paul James away from Channel 4 to join him. The dynasty began but always wondered never asked. What your first impression the boss where when you decide to come Jan and I have worked at the greenhorn kettle and been around her doing this for about a year.

Well it was simply ignored by the wealthy. I'm Beaudry I'm bending in there for you. In those days the station remoted Dick Bob and Paul is simply the most enjoyable to watch and he colleagues like many viewers grew up with Channel 5 News. Dick makes everyone feel comfortable. That's his key to success considered the best at the top it was then that the rug got pulled out from under him in 1980. Cancer struck. You bounce back from that cancer of the chemotherapy and you lost all your hair and you came to work with that wig on and you played it straight just like the right time you were growling around the newsroom. Yank my wig off but you're good. I mean I can see him you know out where you see the cancer battle for other people. He did and he still does. He is a crusader in the battle after chemotherapy the doctors declared Dick cured a word rarely used for this

disease. We at carousel call it a miracle would be hard to imagine the Kyocera without dick like you to a lake without catfish you know in sports certain players are referred to as a franchise player Dickey is the franchise. I mean fine we'll all take our bows for whatever else we do in supporting roles. But Dickie has cancelled television news from the word go. Dick has shown nothing to me and everybody else within the shared his stage. But graciousness and encouragement and acceptance and pointers and camaraderie and that's not big ego that's a big man. That's a big heart. Happy anniversary day. And that's that's well that's right. Let me go back to back here. Well Dick is our guest tonight. Dick thanks for joining us. Only seems like 30 years

but it's been almost 35 years even though most 35 first of March be 35. And is there another anchor person in the nation that's been on the air you know in the number one spot for that many years not that I know of not that I know in fact when Bob and Paul retired at that time we couldn't find any trail even of news weather and sports team that had been on the air as long together as the three of us. So I'm sure I've even gotten to know I was a single. You know one place that for the longest time. To what do you attribute that. I don't know Ted it's I've really enjoyed Salt Lake City and the state of Utah and the surrounding area. The coverage area we have which is a big one. People have been just super to me wherever I've gone especially those down times when I was recovering from cancer and some other setbacks in life that I had I just really found a camaraderie with the people I worked with.

Friendship and the in the community I lived in and the love and concern that came forth those times just as something you can't put a price on or a value on and I felt like I found a home and I wanted to give back whatever I could and I guess more than any one thing I would be at. You say you had had setbacks in life a lot of people would. Would say that you have been successful which you have. Lucky in ways which you have. Well-off or rich. Yes I do well. Well they do but you have had setbacks you had you've had cancer in a couple of different forms due to different times of cancer. A couple of divorces there went the wealth. Whatever I had I could recover. But those are sad times in the cancer. It is a scary time. The first bout

I had a 50/50 chance of survival. You know I I think back and I made crumble of those days I still do and I worry and I'm still scared about of even with the advances we've made in cancer the very sound of the word still frightens me. Then I had a strong support from Katie as you will remember and people came forth. That was the first time I realized that man had been taking a lot of this life for granted. I realized more than anything how short our life on this earth is. And we'd better put something into an accomplish some of those things we wanted to hear and respect others along the way I think and share with others along the way. And at that time was the first time I think in my life I really realized just how important a part other people play in our lives. And so I started thinking about life in general Lennon and I want to you know made my promises as we do when we're down like that. If I recover I could put back into it whatever I could and make the best of my life

and make a better life for other people. And I wanted to do that and I continue to want to do that. Well now you are happily married. You say you've had two divorces. You're married now how long have you been married. Seven years. And even have a new baby. Yeah. You know I'm 56 years old this guy came into my life almost two years ago and this was one of those occasions again. And I think despite those setbacks and that falling off period in those those times when we wonder why me what we're doing here I think with all those are we if we stop and think we really have a blessings that come with it and this little guy is a case in point because three weeks prior to finding out just three almost to the day prior to finding out that I had prostate cancer would have to have it out. I could never have children again. We found out that that was pregnant all this little guy has. Needless to say everything to us and him coming along this late in my life. He's just made everything. There's a there's an age difference of course between my wife and I

but I always did like older women so I. Thought that my was you know she stepped in it and she's raised six kids three of her own from another two from another Mary Jane. One of mine from another Mary now the new one and me and she's done a great job. And you're all getting along anyway. Yeah yeah yeah just we travel together they they come to a lot of the functions I participate in with me and they're all supportive and I love them dearly his just I don't know why I had to wait so long in life to have all of this but I guess that's just the way it is and I make the best of it now and I'm loving it I'm living again I'm starting over in a lot. I think I've heard that you've become you're just sort of have told us that but I've heard you've become a religious person. I have I think I always was I didn't really practice my religion but I was born and raised in the LDS faith and I loved it I loved it and believed it and didn't always honor it. But I

I finally Deb and I and I knew one day that probably I would slip back into what I really have been taught and believed in. And after marrying Debbie and talking about it and contemplating our lives together those first few years we decided that the time was right to do it. But we did it and we were quite faithful now I have a very strong testimony of that gospel but I what I love. I think back on those times again when I was recovering from cancer and those other setbacks when people from other religions came forth and burned incense and they lighted candles in the Catholic Church. I had a sister a nun at the Holy Cross Hospital where I was recovering from my first bout of cancer. Who took the time every day to talk to me the first thing she said to me as she came in is Dick if you ever stop and think Why me. Stop and say why not me. Because there has to be a very good reason you have this. You certainly wouldn't want anybody else to have it would you. And she gave me a

lot of food for thought and things to contemplate at those times and we talked and I love her dearly. I can't remember her name. Maybe she was in the mouth and gone somewhere else I don't know. But I but I remember those moments that I had with her and a very deep religious person in a very satisfying and comforting individual she was and I'll never forget that so I do have a very deep strong belief in God and a strong faith. And that he he controls all and we have to sometimes put our fate in his hands. And when you have had here a couple of times you know you've had it so you can handle everything ourselves. Are you clearer now as they were have cancer hammering on the mind and the prostate out it hadn't spread. They took it out and. Then thanks to vi Agora there is still a little fun in life. Well I was going to ask that but I do not think you know OK.

I'm pleased that that's the case in your life and indeed. You have definitely changed from when you and I were together a long time ago. We did you. You've mellowed. How has the business changed. Of all you know it's I remember those days Ted knew you would know more than I. What kind of money you had to spend then but I'm. If I recall right remember some three hundred thousand a $500000 your budget Yeah yeah I remember you storming into the NEWSROOM we're shooting too much color. That's what I asked him to get back to black and white. Unless it's a big story. What you know now we've gone from those those tiny budgets and they seemed quite big then but. I know KSL spending five million dollars a year on the news operation and coverage and we go we could go live from any place in the world if we had to virtually with with satellite systems and the hookups and I've lost track of the technology that's the big change I get. Back then I

could tell you what a handheld camera was you have sound camera types of film now and what have you. But you know now the technology is to the point where it's changing every day. Computers there was a time when when we changed the computer I said Now I'm going to do my news type my newscast on a typewriter and oh yeah yeah this computer at all. Now I wouldn't know what to do without the computer now. So yeah that's the big change I think. The way we cover news has changed a little bit we're getting into more places now. People in my early days in television news. People didn't really watch us a lot. We had to have a newscast on here so we did. But now probably 90 percent of the people to depend on television news soley for what they they know and understand you're doing a good job of covering the news. I think we are we have more newscasts now with early morning noon.

5:00 6:00 6:30 and 10:00 Yeah and we never had before. That's still not enough to do some of things would like to do but but we're finding that that is that is where the competition lies and people do depend on television for their news. Yeah they do and I want to ask you about your advice to young people who would like a career in television news. First though before we do that I think well you tell me and I could be wrong but you tell me what has been the highlight of your reporting career of your news career because we have a little clip. OK. It was in fact you were responsible for all of us like here back in 1960 probably late 60s sex I guess maybe that fall before the year changed. I had an offer to go to Sacramento again and and Ted called me and he said we want you to stay and we want you to go to Vietnam. By the height of the war.

Yeah. Just before the Tet Offensive and the so we we proceeded to put things together and it took us several months to get the shots and the visas and the clearance in the cut through the necessary red tape but you instigated that. I wanted to go I was scared to death. I want to write a story that I was afraid I would forget and be on Larry Fanning and went Yeah you know I got Naaman I am in May of 1967 we were there about three weeks and yeah you did a good job and we have a little clip of some of your report. I was there in 1967 as a young reporter covering the war which had divided our country and is talking with Utah soldiers most even younger than I who were involved in that conflict. Kalmadi on for too much longer now. OK Lloyd Lloyd Vance from down in Carbon County Price Utah on this it ignores KSL News about the USS Kitty Hawk because to be up to my experiences in Vietnam were swift They were not nearly as dramatic as those indelibly

painted on the minds of America's soldiers. We spent at least one sometimes too many years at war on that foreign soil. Dick you went back and revisit a Vietnam just to look in may of may have 67 year ago last May. We as 97 or 90 said out there it made first time 67 minutes yeah yeah to do a 30 year to review and look back. Yeah I didn't get all over the country as I'd want to do like I did before but we did spend our time in Saigon which is now whole human city and people there still refer to it as Saigon. Very much changed city it is. It's a beautiful city now that they've changed a lot of the hotels. The State Department headquarters the Defense Department headquarters and all of New facades and they've really cleaned the city up and is quite a beautiful city. The people were very friendly still to Americans. We were followed a few times especially when we got the cameras and microphones. You know we're following

Iraq ask a lot of questions. The children were still the children of Vietnam. Very impressed with Americans and and money. Give me this I mean is trying to sell you this and that. There are still a few gram reminders of the war in Vietnam. The old U.S. embassy and I'm sure you recall those last days of the choppers and the people hanging on trying to flee get out of the country you know that. Yeah I mean it's removing and that still stands and nothing's been done with that. The old bunkers are still there the burned out when those are visible and you can see almost see those haunting pictures of those people trying to clamber aboard choppers or whatever else they could to get out of the city. That still stands I don't have any idea what they are and plan to do with that. Well I know that you did a good job over there and we did hold our breath. And I had you been there in today's television news world. It would have been different because you could have done live shots and then we would have to worry about getting film back in

and really what you were going to see. Yeah yeah. Really what you're going to see but you did a good job and I know that I guess it was the highlight of your career. It was and in those days I think you know those those some of those battles were a day older hours when that was one of the first things I think that really brought television news of age. Yeah. Between that the Kennedy assassination where people all of a sudden were watching everything unfolding and then going right into war. I think television news finally came of age and people realized hey this is great. A lot of people have questioned some of the ethics tactics of television news in recent days there was of the CNN. Report on the nerve gas that in Vietnam an old report. The that is an old story that they brought back. That was indicated later found to be untrue. Do you ever worry about the facts that you're putting out. I mean you cover a broad area here in the Mountain West and you cover a lot of stories and you've been out a

long time. You ever done anything wrong. I get I don't recall no I don't. I have and I I hope I haven't not and still don't know about it yeah. I think in the name of competition you know we sometimes get a little greedy and in a hurry. KSL and I think this is philosophy probably that played well when you were there and has followed in your footsteps of of you know we try to be first on the air with your information but we've always tried. As I recall to be Thurl with our with our mission as well and making sure of the facts checking them out both sides of the story. We've done that you did that. You did a good job of initiating a lot of that and the news directors in the management sense of the follow through pretty pretty heavily with and we. They're pretty bent on uncovering this thing and making sure they have the right information before jumping on the air with the facts first. And there have been stories you have staged things and all and no we've we've

stayed completely away from any anybody even suggesting that sort of things. Now you are. You work for KSL TV and. It's owned by the LDS church. I when I used to work there people would always ask me the question I'm going to ask you does the LDS Church put any pressure on you to report things a certain way. There have been a lot of times over the years that I've been there where they've been the presidency of the church or other individuals even have called in. And asked questions viewers of calls I can imagine. My church KSL putting that on the air. But as far as as trying to control what is broadcast there have been questions asked over the years not you probably be more privy to information of exactly what's come down than even I but I have never been called directly and told not to do a story. I think the only time I remember where we had a heavy involvement with that was a report we

did years and years ago with. But it was Louise Caldwell tabernacle of the stress you are so no no I mean at Marmon women now and the church asked a lot of questions about that but we and we realized they had some legitimate questions because naturally there were more Mormon women around here sure that others down the stress level among those women was it was natural you know I you know but things like that that we can help clarify that they can help clarify they have they've read about an hour to him but I don't recall any any real heavy pressure of don't do this. Well do this yeah yeah and I have to say here and not to get personally involved but I never had that happen either when I was the news director there. OK. Many young people still are attracted to television and television news and there are many opportunities what with all the cable stations the competition is extreme. What's your advice to a person how did you do it or how would you record. Well you were

you were like I was lucky I was at right place at the right time. Yeah you were and that still happens. Yeah it could happen. We've had in turns come into KSL who have stayed and worked through the ranks of a producer maybe assistant producer than producing them out and other things you want to do usually. And with the programs they have now what here at University of Utah BYU has an excellent communications department. I'm not that close with the Other than all the Utah State has and Wieber even Southern Utah University who so these are good places to get a background basic education. Even on air experience with with television news whether you want to be on air whether you want to be on a technical crew you want to write produce shoot video whatever it might be. These are good areas to get started and then the old usually is that is what's the case is is once you graduate get involved in the intern program and once you graduate go to a small market get a job. Work your way up and that's where you came from a small minded you came from grants and I sit in the most of the people

in TV back then started in radio. Yeah yeah they did and you did some radio before and I still like really I'm just radioactive. Well if I were still there you'd still be different from radio as well as a tad. I'd make sure you did but you have to be. Nowadays. You have to be young you're not so you know you have to be younger if you're while mine are extremely glamorous and good luck ing like you are to be on the air. Unfortunately I think it is probably. More true with women than men. Yes they have to be. They want to be young you know and they get to a point in life that they say you know I don't we better get a younger one in there I don't know why that is. Because why do they do and I don't I don't know if it's if it's more of a. Panic situation from the station or if people really do turn off older women I don't know. I really don't like to find out I wrote a survey on that meanwhile. But in my case I don't know when and when the cutoff date will

be I mean when they quit watching I guess I'll retire. Well that was my next thought I'd like to again Deval that up I'd like to move into that retirement while I'm still on top I don't want to have to be forced out. But what I watch is that I think of gel that was the bottom circle what he where he should have quit when any did so bad timing. Well you've thought about it. I have I do know that the ratings for you are still very good and the ratings at 10 o'clock newscast supports KSL. And you know I'm proud to be a part of that and I can't say I don't know why people have always watched me I love people I love serving the people as well as informing the people. And I just you know if if. I've often thought the greatest way to serve would be to be politics but only want to think about that anymore he insists and you know maybe I believe business it is nice and I was the same you walked with bad downwash Jack and Dan Rather I read the other day has just signed a contract for another four or five year what's

will take until he's 70. You're only 51 at 68 58 now so you've got all you can. I might I you know I'm looking I think a great time and I wish maybe that's not an announcement by any means but I would look in through the Olympics at least €2000 you get in four years I could retire at 62 with my full retirement. Since I've been long but yeah but that's going to depend and KSL and I have talked about is nothing new to any of them who might be watching. We've talked and wondering just. That point might come down the line and we'll see in 62. Dick thanks very much for having been here it's been a pleasure to see going to him but you know I just could because I enjoyed the years working with you so very much. Well thank you very much. Thank you. If you'd like to make a comment about tonight's program please call our viewer hotline 5 8 1 day or access our website dot org we do welcome your comments. The Jewish holiday approaches China begins on September 21st and on our next civic dialogue conversation we're going to talk with

Rabbi Frederick winder of Salt Lake's congregation called on me. We're going to ask about preparations for that holiday get an update on the status of Utah's growing Jewish community and kill them. I'm Ted K.. Good bye.