2013 Inductee
Adele jumped into broadcasting at age 16 as a radio disc jockey and anchor in Tennessee, her home state; she was the first female DJ in Knoxville, working a Top 40 format for 5 years. She made the transition to television news in 1981, first in Knoxville, then in Raleigh, then Chicago at WBBM. In 1993 Adele came to Denver and KUSA, where she’s anchored the weekday evening newscast for nearly 18 years, working with co-anchors Ed Sardella, Jim Benneman, Bob Kendrick and now, Mark Koebrich. A recipient of 7 regional Emmy awards, Adele sets the standard in the newsroom for pure ethics, strong writing, and great storytelling. She is known for fairness, for getting the whole story, and for her relentless and thorough fact-checking. She has made it her business, both on-camera and off, to give a voice to those who find themselves with just cause but no hero.
Over the years, Adele has made it a priority to serve meals to the homeless through the Denver Rescue Mission’s Great Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Banquets. For 18 years Adele has volunteered her time with the Capuchin Franciscans, who value her professionalism and her humanity working with the friars and their ministries. For over a decade she has worked with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, and with the Morgan Adams Foundation, which funds research into the causes and treatment of pediatric cancer. She’s been known to bring her family along for a long day in the cold, unloading truck beds for the 9Cares-Colorado Shares food, clothing and toy drive. Adele is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League and the Japanese American Service Committee, and is past-president of the Asian American Journalists Association.
Adele and her husband, Barry, have been married for 35 years; they have two grown children. Adele and her husband are avid golfers, and the entire family enjoys racing cars. In fact, Adele holds a Club Racing license with PCA and is a certified instructor for the Rocky Mountain Region Porsche Club and the Colorado Exoticar Association. She’s raced in venues from the Daytona International Speedway to the Pikes Peak International Raceway, to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.