The Ernie

Present and former WTVT employees are recognized for their extraordinary service to the station and the Tampa Bay community with the presentation of The Ernie.

Named after WTVT's legendary musical host, Ernie Lee, The Ernie is presented yearly by the BIG 13 Historical Committee.

ERNIEs WERE PRESENTED IN 2003 TO:

Ernie Lee                      (Posthumous - Accepted on behalf of Ernie's
                                   family by Gordon Cornelison, Ernie's son).

Hugh Smith                   Former Anchor/News Director

Roy Leep                      Former Chief Meteorologist

'Salty Sol' Fleischman    (Posthumous - Accepted for the Fleischman 
                                   family by Sol's nephew Dave Rosenblatt)

Mary Ellen                    (Kids Show Host)

Ken Smith                    (Former Production Manager)

Jule McGee                   (Project 13 photographer/editor,
                                   now in charge of satellite vehicles)

Jim Benedict                (Production Manager)

ERNIEs WERE PRESENTED IN 2004 TO:

John Hayes                    (Tallahassee correspondent;
                                    Asst. News Director)

Jeri Smith                      (Broadcast operations)

Paul Koenig                    (Director)

Crawford Rice                 (Anchor, News Director,
                                    General Manager) 

Lesley Friedsam              (Reporter, Tallahassee
                                    Correspondent)                

Howard Sharpiro             (Meteorologist)                

Jack Cosgrove                (Chief Photographer)

Ed Shaw                        (Engineer)

POSTHUMOUS 2004 ERNIEs WERE PRESENTED TO:

Bob Olson                     (Operations Supervisor)

Andy Hardy                    (Sports Director)

Gene Dodson                 (General Manager)

Don Harris                     (Announcer, Reporter)

ERNIE WERE PRESENTED IN 2005 TO:

Wayne Fariss              (Anchor 1955-58)

Joe Loughlin                (Anchor/News Director
                                  1958-63)

Cy Smith                   (Assignment Desk, Editorial
                                Researcher and Writer)

Terry Casey                (Reporter, Anchor)
    
Leslie Spencer            (Co-Host Pulse Plus!)

Mak Makinen              (Cinematographer,
                                Satellite Truck Supvr.)

Jimmy Lewis               (Engineer, Director)

Duane Martin             (Photographer, Engineer
                                Satellite News Truck)

Emmett West             (Engineer)             

Pete Johnson              (Sports Reporter, Anchor)

Andy Johnson              (Meteorologist)                 

Jerry Krumbholz           (Announcer)

and Ray Blush             (Reporter, Anchor,
                                 Producer of Proj. 13,
                                Host of 'High-Q,' and
                                News Director)

Mike Clark                 (Production)

POSTHUMOUS ERNIES WERE PRESENTED TO:

John Haberlan            (Sales Manager)

Joe Wiezycki             (Producer "Pulse Plus")

Paul Reynolds            (Announcer, Sports Anchor,
                                'Bozo,' 'Shock Armstrong')

Bob Fellows                (Reporter)

To see an article about the presentation of the first Ernies,
CLICK HERE

TO RETURN TO ERNIE LEE STORY, CLICK HERE

TO SEE OTHER WTVT PERSONALITIES, CLICK HERE