GREENSBORO, N.C. — In less than a week, WFMY News 2 turns 75. Over the course of this week, we're catching up with some of the people who you might remember bringing you the news! Today, we go back to the 80s and 90s and catch up with former WFMY reporter Leonard Simpson.
Simpson worked at the station for 23 years. He said they were some of the best years of his life and that he worked with some of the best people that he'd ever encountered in his career. He specifically reflected on working with anchors Sandra Hughes and Lee Kinard. He said when he started at WFMY in 1980, Sandra and Lee were already tv news icons. He said, "But what really endeared me to them and to the station is they were so down to earth and I learned so much from the people here that were pioneers in television news."
Simpson also recalled the time when WFMY News 2 had a helicopter. "When Sky Two came on the scene, back in like 1981 or 82 we really, really did dominate news, television news."
He said one thing that was consistent about working at WFMY News 2 was the sense of team. "Everybody worked together as a team for a common purpose. That was to make the station, and the news product that we put out, the very best in the market and some of the very best in the nation. And I think we accomplished that."
He says that legacy continues in the WFMY News 2 of today. "There was a prestige and there still is a prestige to this day of the, the history and the heritage of this station that's made its mark since 1949. I came 31 years after it went on the air and to this day it's still making an impact on the Piedmont Triad."
When Simpson left WFMY News 2, he stayed in the Triad. For 15 years, he worked for Guilford County Schools. He put all those reporter skills to good use as the manager of their cable tv station. He's now enjoying retirement.
We'll be celebrating 75 a little more this week. We're catching up with some familiar faces and celebrating other businesses turning 75. Don't miss it!
Of course, this weekend we want you to celebrate 75 years with us! Sunday, August 18th, we'll be at Triad Park from 2:00pm - 4:00pm for a party! There will be food trucks, a performance from Eric and the Chill Tones, and, of course, members of the WFMY News 2 team! We hope to see you there.