As reported here first, (although slightly ahead of schedule), veteran anchor/reporter, Don Sanchez, is retiring after more than four decades at KGO-TV. Sanchez' last day is Friday.
Just got an e-mail from the longtime Bay Area TV vet:
My last day on the air is tomorrow after 40 years, 3
months continuously on one bay area TV station. It has been quite a ride and I recall you were part of it a
number of years ago.I have several things I want to do, but nothing concrete yet. Just a little 'r and r' to start.
Sanchez was a part of the legendary time at KGO in the 1970's and 80's when KGO's newscasts were the dominant #1 program in the market. He did just about everything: sports, news, entertainment and multi-faceted features. Truly one of a kind.
I used to kid Sanchez from time to time about his eternal youthful look. During one phone call years ago, I asked him, "hey 'Dick Clark, is it you?"
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When I moved to San Francisco in 1979 to work for KYA, Channel 7 News Scene was the program to watch. Van, Jerry, Jan, Don and Pete were the best. And Don, you outlasted them all. Congrats on your great career!! All the best to you.
ReplyDeleteJohn Evans, KCBS
Decided to take up art at the Academy of Art University too?
ReplyDeleteDon Sanchez is one of the most plastic looking people in the media next to Mark Ibanez. Still, both are Bay Area institutions and Don will be missed. Best of luck to him in future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteI wish Don S. the best. He must have really loved his job to stay that long.
ReplyDeleteA little off topic, if you please...Ahem, Mr. Lindsay Lloyd Young on 910am. listen my children and you will hear Mr. Lindsay's roar, his thunder clear; HELLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO San Francisco!!! Am I the only one who wickedly imagines a bright red cherry being popped into Mr. Lindsay's mouth as he cuts loose with his latest thunderclap? Ala the Three Stooges at the Opera (google it, young folks!) No harm, no foul, just a temporary malfunction of those bellowing 910am lungs.
Many of the cities LLYoung says HELLLOOOOO to are barely in the listening range of 910. 810 reached that far, but not 910 -- Petaluma, Benicia, Sebastapol-- can 910 be heard that far off???
DeleteI lived in Benicia from late 1998 to beginning of 2007 and I was ALWAYS able to get 910, I was also in outside sales and my territory included Napa, Sonoma, all the way up past Vacaville, I don't remember how far up 910 reached, but further than most think. I think it depends on other factors than distance, I have seen e-mail from people in Orinda and Moraga complaining they cannot get 910, however they are closer to the City than Benicia, but have a lot of hills.
DeleteI live in Pebble Beach and my Prius gets 910 loud and clear. I'm amazed how people much closer to 910 in the Bay Area constantly complain about a bad signal.
DeleteI arrived in the Bay Area from Mexico as a 12 year old boy in 1982. Mr. Sanchez was someone I admired on tv because he had a Spanish last name, always dressed sharp and was smooth with perhaps the best mustache in local news ever. 30 years later I look older than the youthful Mr. Sanchez. Please ask him his secret for his youthful look. Facial creams? Clean living? Lots of fish in his diet? May he have a wonderful retirement.
ReplyDeleteMan, we are losing all the great reporters.
ReplyDelete5:09: Botox, multiple face lifts and a very good colorist. Good for him. Looks are important on TV. Don invested well in his appearance. It would not have mattered if he had not delivered an exceptional performance. Don is very nearly unique in this regard among local broadcasters. Plus, he is an extraordinarily nice guy. He deserved his long run.
ReplyDeleteMister Sanchez did a report from my third grade classroom in 1975. I'm likely 18 years older now than Sanchez was then.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck, Don! Enjoy retirement.
ReplyDeleteI remember sitting in the KGO Radio control room (before a tragic shooting resulted in it being boarded over), and seeing Don, Jerry, Van, Pete and John head from the TV newsroom in an adjacent building to the studio at 277. A long time ago, and a job well done.
Sat next to Don at a charity event years ago...after a little too much wine I told him, "You've been on Bay Area TV my whole life." I was probably 35 at the time. He laughed it off...thankfully. Best of luck in retirement to him!
ReplyDeleteDon Sanchez is a class act. I remember when he was doing sports and it wasn't an easy thing to do after being in news for so many year. But ever the true pro, Don make the move seamlessly. He could anchor, do stories in the field, cover serious news stories and do sports, all with style and brio. Congrats Don on a great career and now enjoy a well deserved retirement with hopefully lots of traveling, golf, and time with the grand children!
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