In the summer of 1969, after a short stop at radio station WIZE-AM in Springfield, Baldridge met with Johnny Walker, a broadcasting friend from Lima. Walker helped him get a radio job at WING (980-AM) in Dayton.
So, 40 years ago, he moved to Dayton, took the WING job, met his wife, Sue, and put down roots.
“When Sue and I got back from our honeymoon, I had a chance to meet Ed Hamlyn, the long-time news director at WDTN-TV, Channel 2 news, and he hired me as a reporter, and part-time anchor” Baldridge said. “Not too long after that I was hired by Channel 7 on the other side of town, and eventually worked my way up to the position of co-anchor...”
In 1988, when the late Don Wayne retired, Baldridge became the prime anchor at Newscenter 7.
Baldridge considers “luck” a component of his success.
“I am surprised I have been able to do what I have done,” he said. “I love to write. I know I am a good reporter, and a good writer. But to me, I felt I never looked right on the air. I looked too young, and my voice had too high a pitch.”
It is rare in a television market for a single station and a news anchor to monopolize television ratings for nearly four decades.
Barbara Frye, vice president of talent placement services for Frank N. Magid Associates, a television and entertainment research company headquartered in Marion, Iowa, said there are “only a handful of television news anchors around the nation who have been as successful as Jim Baldridge, and have been fortunate enough to hold a top job such as his for this amount of time.”
Frye said, “Anchors reaching retirement age, and making a strong salary are often squeezed out. To have this man’s longevity in an industry that is unstable and impatient and is highly driven by ratings is very unusual.” Baldridge said, “I think I have survived this long because the audience respects us and counts on Channel 7 for important local news.” Among Baldridge’s career highlights is covering the United States Air Show. For 26 years, he anchored the station’s live coverage of the event, which was taped and packaged into an hour program syndicated to stations around the U.S. and in foreign countries.
Major General Ed Mechenbier (USAF retired), his color commentator for many of those programs, said, “Jim was excellent in that role because he was fascinated with the show. He was like a little kid seeing these air adventures for the first time, and his enthusiasm came across.”
Baldridge said his decision to leave Channel 7 is “completely voluntary.”
He wants to keep a positive working relationship with Channel 7 and Cox Broadcasting. “I have also thought about doing pieces for public radio, or perhaps volunteering some work for the U.S. Air Force Museum.”
Baldridge said it’s simply time for a change.
“I still love being a reporter, but would like to work on special projects that reach into more serious issues. I would like to have the time and luxury of fully developing them.”
Baldridge admits he will miss the fans who supported him, and professional relationships. Harry Delaney, the vice president and General Manager of Channel 7 said he will miss Baldridge, “as our anchor, and as a friend. There is only one Jim Baldridge.”
Baldridge was sent to natural disasters, terrorist attacks and has reported from 24 countries.
“One of my favorite assignments was called ‘Return to Vietnam’ and included a package of stories that photographer Chuck Upthegrove and I accomplished 10 years after the war,” he said.
In retirement, Baldridge hopes to spend more time with his two grandchildren. The Baldridges have a son, Nick, and a daughter, Sue.
The Baldridges have a winter cottage in Florida, and “when the second or third big snowfall of the winter comes, we will head to Florida,” he said.
“Dayton is home base to us,” Baldridge said. “We won’t wander far from home. We have wonderful friends and incredible memories here. For us, this is the place where good things happened.”
Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He’d like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272. Blog: www.DaytonDailyNews.com/go/fromtheheart.
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