Thursday, May 26, 2011

WDIO's Denny Anderson Signs Off After Four Decades

From Lisa Baumann, Duluth News Tribune
Clint Austin/Duluth News photo
WDIO news anchor Dennis Anderson wanted Wednesday to be a normal day. In reality, it was anything but.

At the station, the atmosphere was charged with people who wanted to make sure everything went well for Anderson’s final broadcasts, said Jon Ellis, assistant news director.

“It has the buzz of an election with no election,” Danielson said of the newsroom.

Throughout the day, the jokes were flying.

“Your password will expire in eight days,” Anderson read aloud from his computer. “Do I want to change it?”
          He then made a point of telling everyone that in 24 hours, he’d be at the cabin fishing...
“You can come back and visit anytime,” reporter Katey Rusch told him.

“I’ll be back a week from tomorrow for my paycheck,” he said. “And sometimes for coffee.”
Anderson also spent time replying to e-mails and a stack of snail mail from those wishing him well in his retirement.

After his signoff of “Good night, and be kind,” Anderson said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to get through his final goodbye during the 10 p.m. broadcast.

But at 10:30 p.m., with family members surrounding him at his desk, Anderson nearly made it through his entire goodbye with emotions in check.

“I want you to know … it has been a marvelous run,” he said with his voice starting to break. “Thank you for being there. And so … Goodbye everybody, and be kind.”
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