Honorary Dave Ward Place
Dave Ward was honored for his 50 years of broadcasting to the city of Houston and beyond with his very own street sign next to channel 13 where he spent so much of his life.
“I want to thank you all, I can’t tell you what this means to me,” Dave remarked to the crowd of family and friends gathered for the street sign unveiling. “I got my name on a building now, I got my name on a street. I guess a few people in Houston have heard of me.”
On Tuesday August, 8, 2023, the intersection right next to the KTRK studios, 3400 Bissonnet Street and 5200 Westchester, will have a blue marker on top of the red Upper Kirby street sign that says “Honorary Dave Ward Place.”
Familiar KTRK faces from the past and present showed their love for the “Voice of Houston” as dignitaries such as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Police Chief Troy Finner and KTRK President-General Manager shared their respect for Houston’s anchorman.
Here are Mayor Turner’s full remarks:
“Dave is here along with his beautiful wife, Laura and their guests. Give it up to Laura.
For a long time, we’ve wanted to do something special to honor Dave’s contribution to the community. And we thought an honorary street sign near Channel 13 made the most sense because he spent so much of his personal and professional life right here.
Dave is not a Houstonian, but as you’ve heard many times, he got here just as soon as he could. He was born up the road in Huntsville, came to the city to launch a radio career in the early 60s and then joined KTRK ABC 13 in 1966, starting as a reporter and then a photographer two years later.
Dave was promoted to Eyewitness News anchorman in 1968, and the rest is history.
He began every newscast with “Good evening friends,” and the audience really felt like he was a part of the family, someone who became a familiar and trusted voice who they saw on television every evening. He devoted more than 50 years of his life to his craft and kept the community informed on local news, while also providing extensive coverage of national political events.
From the launch of the Apollo to interviews with five US presidents. And no doubt, he also interviewed some Houston mayors along the way before his retirement in 2016.
Dave had the distinct honor of being the longest running news anchor in American television, and that part of his history is enshrined in the Guinness World Book of Records.
But it was not just Dave’s longevity behind the desk that made him beloved to viewers in Houston and around the world. It was his character, his credibility that helped him connect with his audience, whether they were watching him on the evening news or seeing him at the community events.
So, Dave, we are grateful for your work over the years with the Houston Eastern Seal Society, Crime Stoppers, Houston’s Children’s Charity. I think Laura knows a little bit about that. The Houston Police Foundation and so much more.
Dave Ward is Houston and Houston will always love him and for generations to come. We thought it would be good just to have a marker on a street in the city of Houston, close to a place where he spent so much of his time, not just for us, but for generations to come. And it’s because of you, Dave, that Houston is a much better place. I’m glad that we’re able to do this so you can see it. And Laura, thank you for just being you and the wife that you are and tell me what you got those socks. Thank you so very, very much.”
Ward replied to Mayor Turner with praise in return.
“Mister Mayor, thank you so much,” Ward said. “You’ve been one of the best mayors that I’ve covered. Well, when I first moved here, Lewis Cutrer was the mayor. Wow. And of all the mayors we’ve had, you, my friend, are by far the most conscientious and the best for the city. We’re saying great things about each other here, aren’t we? Yeah, well, you deserve them, sir. You really do.”
