Posted by chicagomedia.org on January 29, 2009 at 12:31:10:
The Museum Of Broadcast Communications, headed by Bruce DuMont, is planning a "Salute to Warner Saunders" gala May 16 at the Fairmont Hotel. Saunders, whose remarkable media career spans over 40 years, 28 of them at NBC5, is taking a slow boat to retirement and is now only co-anchoring the 10 p.m. news with Allison Rosati. He previously was holding down the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. news segment with Rosati, whom he has been working with for over 17 years.
Saunders' last 10 p.m. newscast will be May 29. I asked the dean of anchors what he will do in retirement. "Diversity in the workplace has always been a passion of mine. And I intend to expand it by presenting seminars for the business, corporate and educational communities. I [and] my lovely wife, Sadako, and family will become part-time residents of Hawaii since we have a condo there. I am going to miss my friends and colleagues in the news department, especially my wonderful co-anchor." Warner celebrates his 74th birthday on Friday and his son, Warner Jr., had a birthday on Wednesday.
(Stella Foster, Chicago Sun-Times)