Dick Nourse

Dick Nourse
Born	1940 Grand Junction, Colorado
Occupation	Journalist
Notable credit(s)	News Anchor at KSL 5 (1964-2007)
Religion	LDS
Spouse(s)	Debi Nourse
Family	5 children

Dick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL 5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor. He concluded his 43-year career with his final newscast on November 28, 2007, a record term for a Utah television news anchor. Nourse's longevity as an American news anchor comes second to that of the late Hal Fishman, whose career spanned 47 years.

Nourse began his broadcasting career in Grand Junction, Colorado, at radio stations KDTA and KREX. He attended Mesa College in Grand Junction and Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Nourse moved to Salt Lake City in 1964 and applied at KUTV channel 2 and KCPX channel 4, but neither hired him. The next day, he applied across the street at KSL channel 5 and was hired.

Nourse, Welti and James

The birth of KSL's franchise product was on the evening of July 13, 1965. That's the day Nourse was first paired with weatherman Bob Welti and sportscaster Paul James, recently poached from KCPX-TV, which had long been the leading news station in Utah. Despite its newspaper roots, KSL-TV had long been a ratings also-ran. However, within a short time, Nourse, Welti and James catapulted channel 5 to first place—a lead it held for over four decades.^[1] The trio would remain together for 26 years until James and Welti both retired in 1991. At that time, they were the longest-running evening news team in the nation.^[2]

Cancer

In 1980, Nourse learned he had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer. He was off-the-air and in the hospital for chemotherapy treatment. His co-anchor at the time, Shelly Thomas, interviewed him and his doctor. His doctors were unsure of his chances at survival, but Nourse survived the cancer twice and has since been involved in fundraising for cancer research.

Career highlights

• In 1967, Nourse toured Vietnam for one month interviewing military personnel from Utah. In 1997 – 30 years later — he returned to renew acquaintances in that country and attempt to resolve some of his own unrest since the war.
• In 1977, he was listed as one of America's Outstanding Young Men.
• Has served such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists; Camp Kostopulos and the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
• Has been honorary chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the American Cancer Society.
• In 1989, was honored by U.S. President Ronald Reagan as an outstanding survivor of cancer.
• Founded the Dick Nourse Center for Media Innovation at Dixie State College of Utah^[3]

Retirement

On November 28, 2007, Nourse signed off the air for the final time. After a career that began at KSL in 1964, Nourse passed the reins to his long-time colleague and former co-anchor, Bruce Lindsay.

Past news team members

• Nadine Wimmer, Kevin Eubank, Tom Kirkland (2006–2007) Eyewitness News|HD at 10
• Nadine Wimmer, Mark Eubank, Tom Kirkland (2002–2006) Eyewitness News at 10
• Ruth Todd, Mark Eubank, Tom Kirkland (1998–2001) Eyewitness News at 10
• Ruth Todd, Mark Eubank, Craig Bolerjack (1994–1998) Eyewitness News at 10
• Carole Mikita, Mark Eubank, Craig Bolerjack (1991–1994) Eyewitness News at 10
• Shelly Thomas, Bob Welti, Paul James (1979–1991) Eyewitness News Tonight at 10
• Bruce Lindsay, Bob Welti, Paul James (1979–1991) Eyewitness News at 6 & 10
• Bob Welti, Paul James (1965–1991)

References