Heartland Chapter Inductees
2006
Roger Cornish
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Roger Cornish is currently the main news anchor at KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas. He started in the business in 1972 as a camera operator in KTVH in Hutchinson, moving to anchor/producer, and in 1980, making the move to KWCH. Roger not only anchors the evening newscasts but also reports from the field whenever the story requires it. His peers speak of his ability to adlib and handle the chaos of breaking news, and his sense of humor and ability to think on his feet makes him a model for many – he has always been the "master of extended live coverage." He is not a news reader but involved in the stories; he loves writing and can take complicated facts and boil them down to a few sentences. His professionalism, reputation, and integrity are bywords throughout the western two-thirds of the state; he provides leadership through example. KWCH has been named Station of the Year several times by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and Roger has anchored coverage that has won regional and national Edward R. Murrow awards. He has a close connection with the community: bringing news to the East Side Rotary Club's weekly lunch, logging hours of time for Goodwill Easter Seals, the Kansas Food Bank, and telethons to raise money after natural disasters. Every year he anchors from the Kansas State Fair and takes time to meet and greet the crowds. Roger is a Kansas native, born and raised in Hutchinson, and is the recipient of numerous Kansas Association of Broadcasters Awards as well as awards from the RTNDA and Associated Press. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have a daughter attending Wichita State University and a son who is a Wichita police officer.
Brad Edwards
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Brad Edwards (1947-2006) started his television career in 1971 in Wichita Falls, Texas, prior to moving to KFOR and Oklahoma City in 1973, where he grew from a rookie street reporter to a respected news anchor. Since 1981, when Brad began his series of consumer-oriented reports, he has received between 300-500 calls every week from viewers asking for his assistance. Through his investigative In Your Corner franchise, Brad earned the reputation as a tough, fair champion of the folks who couldn't fight for themselves and became one of the most recognizable faces in the market. He exposed rip-offs and scams, and viewers loved him. He has worked to change access for the handicapped at public buildings, uncovered toxins in well water, and conducted fundraisers for Oklahoma children needing organ transplants in the early 1980s – back when insurance didn't cover such "experimental" surgeries. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame this year. Brad is an Emmy® award recipient, as well as receiving awards from the AP and UPI, and has earned recognition from La Tremeda Radio Mexico for his work aiding Hispanic citizens and from the VFW for work on behalf of servicemen and women dealing with drug addiction. Brad started the Warmth for Winter program in 1982, providing coats to those in need, and Fans for Oklahoma in the summer which, through cash donations, provides relief to the elderly and poor from Oklahoma's scorching summers. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in 1970 for his work as television news director with American Forces Thailand Network.
Mark Koebrich
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Mark Koebrich launched his career in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1974, then in 1978 moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and WLKY before moving to KUSA in 1981 as the Southern Bureau reporter in Colorado Springs. Since then, he's handled a variety of jobs. In 1988, he was loaned to USA TODAY-The Television Show as a national correspondent, from 1992-’94 he hosted "Good Afternoon Colorado," has been involved in the coverage of two Olympics Games for 9News and NBC, and he has covered four Denver Bronco Super Bowl appearances. He has anchored mornings, days, and evenings with aplomb; he is well-known as the Consumer Reporter for 9News. He writes in ways that help the viewer understand. Mark has done it all, and he is known as a good storyteller with an eye for detail. What is remarkable is his positive attitude and can-do spirit, which is legendary among his peers. He carries his professional integrity and big heart into everything he does – both on and off the air. Whether he's hosting a high-profile event or talking to a star-struck fan in the grocery store, Mark is genuinely nice and generous with his time. Each interaction is a chance to win a viewer for life, or what Mark likes to call "job security." Currently, Mark is the co-anchor for the 4pm news on KUSA and the 9pm news on KTVD in Denver, also owned by Gannett Broadcasting as is KUSA. Mark and his wife, Cathy, have two children.
Bertha Lynn
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Bertha Lynn, news anchor for KMGH in Denver at 5, 6, and 11 am, began her career in 1976. She spent 8 years as an anchor/reporter for KBTV (KUSA) before joining the 7News team in 1984. Her journalistic achievements and her service to the community have been honored with many awards, including the Emmy, RTNDA, and CABJ awards. In the newsroom, Bertha is known for her determination to get the story right and keeping the coverage balanced. Throughout the years, she has worked with a myriad of news directors, managers, and shift changes and has remained successful as a dedicated reporter and anchor; she always performs her job with a determination to make a significant contribution in that position. In a business where community connection is vital, Bertha has spent 30 years making sure she is connected to the Colorado community. She currently serves as a trustee for Regis University and is a member of the Denver Art Museum's African American task force. Other community support includes the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Denver, the Mayor's Commission on Art, Culture and Film, and the Women's Foundation of Colorado, among many others. Bertha is married to Larry Naves, a Denver district judge, and together they have three children.
Marcia Neville
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Marcia Neville, the Prep Sports Specialist, began her career as the weekend sports anchor at WNYT in Albany in 1980. Three years later, she came to KCNC in Denver to become the first female television sportscaster in Colorado. Her specialty was high school sports, and her hallmark "Skylights" reports give parents and teens reason to be home by 10 pm on Fridays to watch highlights of the fall's big high school football games.
Schools, coaches, and associations recognize the positive impact that Marcia has had on high school sports through her genuine interest and unqualified support. Along the way, Marcia became an advocate for female athletes, and in 1993, she co-produced and hosted Colorado Sportswomen, a quarterly series of Emmy award-winning sports specials devoted exclusively to women and girls. Currently, Marcia serves on the advisory board for Sportswomen of Colorado, an organization she has been supporting for 20 years. She is also active with the Girl Scouts, serving as the honorary chair of the 5K & 1K Walk/Run for nine years now. She has been named a Woman of Distinction by the Mile Hi Council for the positive example she sets for today's girls. Marcia is the recipient of many awards, including multiple Emmy awards, American Women in Radio & TV Gracie Awards, and Women's Sports Foundation awards.
Paula Woodward
2006
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Paula Woodward, Investigative Reporter for 9Wants to Know, joined KUSA in Denver in 1977. During her career, she has contributed to investigations that have touched on workers' compensation statutes, city employee performance, the dismissal of fire and police chiefs, and inspired a multi-jurisdictional internet predator sting. Tough, relentless, strategic, and motivated are words often used to describe her, and after nearly 30 years on the air in Denver, her name has a mental image that often evokes a bit of fear from anyone she calls for an interview. Paula's motivation is to make a difference in the community, not only as a "champion for the little guy," but also as a champion of all citizens by going after government waste in the metro area and the State. She really cares, and viewers trust her.
In her ongoing commitment to community service, Paula also presents a weekly segment offering legal referrals and advice in conjunction with the Denver Bar Association. She is the recipient of more than 22 regional Emmy awards and a national Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Journalism, among numerous other awards. Paula is a native of Montana and received her Bachelor's degree from Montana State University. Before starting her career as a reporter for KDEN radio in Denver, Paula taught school.