Wilma Smith (newscaster)

:"This is an article about American television news anchor. For the Fijan-Born violinist, see Wilma Smith."

Infobox Person
name = Wilma Smith

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imagesize = 200px
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birth_date = Birth date|1946|7|24
birth_place = Garfield Heights, Ohio
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = television news anchor
nationality = American

Wilma Smith (born July 24, 1946) is an American television news anchor for FOX-TV affiliate station WJW-TV, Channel 8, in Cleveland, OH.

Biographical Sketch

Born Wilma Pokorny, Smith is a native of Garfield Heights, OH, an east side Cleveland suburb. She is a 1964 Graduate of Garfield Heights High School. She serves as co-anchor for Fox News at 6:00 p.m. with Lou Maglio. Wilma is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with an undergraduate double major in speech and English. Wilma also holds a Master's Degree in Broadcast Journalism. Before Smith arrived at WJW-TV in 1994, she co-hosted the "Afternoon Exchange" an early evening news program for the local ABC-TV affiliate WEWS-TV 5 from 1977-1982. She was on that program from the shows inception -- the only local anchor with that type of longevity. She later co-hosted the news program "Live On Five" from 1982 until her departure in December 1993, and also co-anchored the 11 p.m. news at WEWS with Ted Henry for 10 years afterwards (1983-1993). Her resume also includes a stop in Richmond, VA, where she got her start in television.

Awards, and Honors

Among the many awards and citations Smith has achieved, Smith is the recipient of 10 local Emmy Awards for excellence in her television work. She was voted "Cleveland's Most Watchable Woman" by local viewers and "Best Anchorperson in Cleveland" in a poll of more than one million voters. Additionally, she was voted "Anchor of Excellence" by the National Association of Career Women, "Newscaster of the Year," a "Cleveland Pacesetter" and "Best Anchorperson" by Cleveland Magazine, and she is a member of the Ohio Television/Radio Hall of Fame. Wilma appeared on the cover of Cleveland Magazine five times.

Personal Life , Hobbies and Interests

Smith lives on the Eastern Suburbs of Cleveland with her husband Tom and her two dogs. She talks about her one dog, Clifford getting attacked by a coyote in Dick Goddard's 2005 Weather Almanac.

References

* [http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=544300&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.3.1 Wilma Smith's profile on WJW-TV website]
* [http://www.broadcastershalloffame.com/biowsmith.htm Wilma Smith bio at Broadcasters' Hall Of Fame website, accessed 2008-02-13.]