Former WISC-TV Anchor O'Connell Passes Away
O'Connell Was Anchor From 1974 To 1989
Updated: 12:07 pm CDT August 5, 2008
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MADISON, Wis. -- Former WISC-TV anchor Tedd O'Connell passed away on Monday after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.
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TALKBACK: Share Your MemoriesO'Connell died at 11:55 a.m. He had recently been living in the Green Bay area.O'Connell was an anchor and reporter at WISC-TV from 1974 to 1989 and during that time, established a reputation as a committed journalist. During his tenure at WISC-TV, O'Connell anchored the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts and was host of weekly public affairs show, "For The Record."He was often the anchor that many tuned when big news occurred. Many co-workers and rivals attributed his success to how he doggedly worked his beat and cultivated sources."He was the Walter Cronkite of Madison news," said former WISC-TV anchor John Karcher.Wisconsin State Journal columnist Doug Moe said that O'Connell used his personal relationships to develop stories."People liked to be around him and he was a friendly guy and a good guy to be around so he could kind of parlay that so when somebody knew something, who are they going to call?" Moe said. "They're not going to call the city desk at the State Journal. They're going to call this guy who was famous, and they know and he was friendly."WISC-TV station manager Tom Bier said that O'Connell's real passion in journalism was reporting."For many years, Tedd was our beat reporter at the City-County Building, where he developed sources not only in city and county government, but also in the Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff's Department," Bier said. "The development of those sources helped our station establish a serious news image at a time when many did not look upon television stations as doing serious journalism. In Madison, Tedd was one of the primary people who helped changed that perception.In the years since O'Connell left Madison, he worked as news director at TV stations in Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Montana.O'Connell is survived by his wife, Roseanne.His widow said that all services will be private although there might be a memorial service in Madison at a later time. She said that anyone who would like to make a donation in O'Connell's name is asked to do so at any local library in their area.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The Report | TALKBACK: Share Your MemoriesO'Connell died at 11:55 a.m. He had recently been living in the Green Bay area.O'Connell was an anchor and reporter at WISC-TV from 1974 to 1989 and during that time, established a reputation as a committed journalist. During his tenure at WISC-TV, O'Connell anchored the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts and was host of weekly public affairs show, "For The Record."He was often the anchor that many tuned when big news occurred. Many co-workers and rivals attributed his success to how he doggedly worked his beat and cultivated sources."He was the Walter Cronkite of Madison news," said former WISC-TV anchor John Karcher.Wisconsin State Journal columnist Doug Moe said that O'Connell used his personal relationships to develop stories."People liked to be around him and he was a friendly guy and a good guy to be around so he could kind of parlay that so when somebody knew something, who are they going to call?" Moe said. "They're not going to call the city desk at the State Journal. They're going to call this guy who was famous, and they know and he was friendly."WISC-TV station manager Tom Bier said that O'Connell's real passion in journalism was reporting."For many years, Tedd was our beat reporter at the City-County Building, where he developed sources not only in city and county government, but also in the Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff's Department," Bier said. "The development of those sources helped our station establish a serious news image at a time when many did not look upon television stations as doing serious journalism. In Madison, Tedd was one of the primary people who helped changed that perception.In the years since O'Connell left Madison, he worked as news director at TV stations in Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Montana.O'Connell is survived by his wife, Roseanne.His widow said that all services will be private although there might be a memorial service in Madison at a later time. She said that anyone who would like to make a donation in O'Connell's name is asked to do so at any local library in their area.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
