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Proclamation congratulating Stacy Smith upon the occasion of his retirement from KDKA-TV.
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WHEREAS, “the price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” That quote by Vince Lombardi depicts the true essence of Mr. Stacy Smith and his 38 years dedicated to KDKA-TV; and
WHEREAS, Stacy is a graduate of Marian College in Indianapolis. He began his broadcast career at WLBC-AM/FM in Muncie, Indiana, in December of 1971. Prior to joining KDKA-TV, Stacy anchored the evening newscasts at WDAF-TV in Kansas City, Missouri, for six years. Before that, he worked at WHAS-AM/FM/TV in Louisville and WIFE-AM (now WIBC) in Indianapolis; and
WHEREAS, Stacy started at KDKA-TV in July of 1983 and dove right into covering politics after his arrival. He covered many of the political conversations and became one of the “go to” people on election coverage; and
WHEREAS, during his years at KDKA-TV, Stacy garnered several key awards including co-anchoring the breaking news coverage of the Crash of Flight 427, which earned KDKA-TV a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Stacy anchored the first Pittsburgh newscast to win an Emmy. He also played a significant role in several Emmy Award-winning special reports including, “After the Miracle,” a report on life after transplantation, and “Generation X,” a report on the 30 and younger age group. Stacy also narrated an Emmy award-winning program for Pittsburgh’s PBS station, WQED-TV, entitled “Maazel!”; and
WHEREAS, Stacy also covered stories regarding breakthrough medical technology and innovations, mostly tied to organ transplant and research. The Associated Press and United Press International honored Stacy for reports on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dr. Thomas Starzl, known as the doctor who pioneered modern transplantation. Additionally, Stacy was honored by the Associated Press and nominated for an Emmy in 2006 for a half-hour special that he produced, wrote, and anchored on the 50-year anniversary of the discovery of the polio vaccine here in Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, also Stacy was awarded a Golden Quill in 2007 for an hour special on then Pittsburgh Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Wuerl, which he co-produced and anchored; and
WHEREAS, Stacy continued his coverage of religious figures when he happened to be one of the few local journalists to briefly meet with Pope John Paul II while covering the Pittsburgh Symphony’s historic trip to the Vatican; and
WHEREAS, Stacy also guided Pittsburgh viewers through many emotional and important events such as: the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting; the UPMC and Highmark insurance coverage dispute; and numerous elections; and
WHEREAS, most recently, Stacy was pivotal in the development, implementation, and execution of KDKA-TV’s 2020 Election coverage plan and footprint. He also created Around the Table, a weekly political segment that became KDKA-TV’s first original programming staple on the new streaming platform, CBSNPittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, in addition to anchoring duties, Stacy interviewed numerous newsmakers on the weekly KD/PG Sunday Edition show. He was also the host of “On-Q Magazine,” from its inception, for eight years at WQED; and
WHEREAS, Stacy was involved in multiple community activities that include having served on the Board of Directors of Harmarville Rehabilitations Center, Three Rivers Council for Independent Living, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Family House of Pittsburgh. In 2007, Stacy was given the title of Chairman Emeritus for Family House. He also has been involved with the Shriners and was named an Honorary Ambassador for the Syria Mosque. He is also a founding member and chaired The Pittsburgh Creche Endowment Committee; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Allegheny County Council Members Patrick Catena, Tom Baker, Liv Bennett, Sam DeMarco, Tom Duerr, Nick Futules, Bethany Hallam, Cindy Kirk, Paul Klein, Bob Macey, John Palmiere, Robert Palmosina, Anita Prizio, DeWitt Walton, Paul Zavarella, and Treasurer John Weinstein, do hereby recognize and congratulate Stacy Smith upon the occasion of his retirement from KDKA-TV, and we commend him for all that he has done during his 50 years in broadcasting.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 6th day of July 2021.