The Legendary
Vince Leonard
A TRIBUTE!

Former Channel 3 anchor Vince Leonard passed away on Friday evening, March 30, 2018. Vince had been ill because of liver cancer. He was 92. His wife, Frankie, said that Vince did not suffer at the end.

Quotes from his friends, co-workers, industry people and members of Broadcast Pioneers:

Steve Levy

When I began at 'Camelot' in 1974, doing week-ends with Jessica Savitch, it was a little intimidating. Vince, Jess, Mort Crim, Big Al Meltzer and a roster filled with Pros at a highly successful station in the 4th market.

I had been in the business one year. Big Al and I were it in the Sports Department. If Big Al had a day off, it was me. Weekends were OK, but Weekdays?
That 1st one came about way too fast..4th Market. My hometown.Knees shaking.

Vince seemed to know what was going on in my head. He did everything he could to make it comfortable. On the air he did everything except hug me. It was unforgettable.

He had human qualities that rivaled his talents as a broadcaster. The words 'kind,' 'considerate,' and 'Gentleman' had to have been coined with Vince Leonard in mind.

Member Al Meltzer, Col. Sanders, member Mort Crim and member Vince Leonard
circa 1975

Mort Crim

Vince was 92, had been diagnosed with cancer, and had known for several months that the end was near. Even though he had enjoyed a rich and full life, it's always difficult to say goodbye. I want to say a few words about Vince.

I met Vince in 1972 when he was senior news anchor at KYW in Philadelphia. I was brought in to become his co-anchor. Anyone in the TV news business knows this isn't always a comfortable situation. But I quickly learned that Vince was not ruled by ego. He was a gentleman through and through. A class act. And we soon became friends as well as colleagues.

I knew Vince had accepted me completely the day he asked if I'd like to become a partner in the airplane he co-owned with channel 10 weatherman, Herb Clarke, and a physician, Bob Trout. Over the years, Vince and I made many flights together, including one memorable weekend to Louisville where we attended the Kentucky Derby as guests of Colonel Sanders and spent the night at the Colonel's home. Al Meltzer, our sportscaster and also a good friend, went with us on that flight.

Vince, old buddy, I will really miss you. I loved you and Frankie, cherish the great times we had, and am grateful that you didn't have to suffer long. You were one of the very best at what you did. But also, one of the best human beings it's ever been my privilege to know.

Jerry Blavat

Back in the day there were two newscasters who represented Philadelphia with style and dignity. They were Vince Leonard and John Facenda. Vince was unique because when you watched the telecast, there was a sincerity and an honesty that the viewer could see.

Even though he might have been reading a teleprompter, the audience never knew that. He always would look the camera in the eye and deliver the news as if he wasn't reading. He truly was a pioneer and opened the door for many other newscasters to follow.

Robin Mackintosh

I began my career at Channel 3 as a desk assistant. On my first day I learned one of my duties was to deliver the-paychecks to the talent. I didn’t have  any problem tracking most of them down if they didn’t track me down first. At the end of the afternoon all were handed out except one.

The name on the check was Homer Venske. Who is that I asked. The head desk assistant smiled and said, “Vince Leonard, That’s who. I probably should have changed my name for TV but growing up in Philadelphia, I had too many viewers who already knew the truth. 

On the week I retired in July of 2008, I called Vince in Nevada to thank him for taking me on as a reporter with no experience to speak of to share his  airtime on Eyewitness News. He seemed surprised that his generous gesture of giving me a break that lasted nearly forty years was remembered & acknowledged. Gracious, generous and kind. He was a gentleman who will be missed. 

Paul Gluck

I met Vince Leonard in the first hour that I was employed in Television. It was my first day as a Desk Assistant at KYW-TV's vaunted Eyewitness News.

A wonderful man, who was to become my mentor and my advocate, Scott Goodfellow, the station's assistant news director, was walking me through the compact and cluttered newsroom on the first floor of Channel 3's space-age, red brick bunker on Independence Mall. As we moved toward the alcove that housed the production desk, three towering figures in Philadelphia Television loomed before me: Mort Crim, Al Meltzer and Vince Leonard.

I wanted to stop and try to absorb the moment, but knew I couldn't. These gents could not have been more attentive and welcoming to the latest member of the legion of Desk Assistants, Group W's minimum wage workforce.

Vince took the time to ask me about my interest in broadcast news and career aspirations. I thought I would be nervous in his presence, but his affable, reserved manner made me feel instantly at ease. He did the same for hundreds of thousands of KYW-TV viewers, every night, no matter how bad the news that he had to deliver.

After a few moments of pleasant exchange, he announced that the was headed to the basement "vendateria" for a snack and asked if I wanted anything. Vince Leonard, who I watched and respected and trusted for years on Eyewitness News, and of whom I was now a colleague for almost :41 minutes, asked if I wanted anything. I was starving. It's the default mode for the Gluck Family.

In a moment of near-spastic awkwardness, I managed to utter the words "tastykake, please." 20 minutes later, I was unwrapping the butterscotch krimpets that a Television Icon brought me from the "vendateria."

In my time as a Desk Assistant, I discovered the value of having a consummate professional like Vince Leonard in the newsroom, when he was off the air. He was the titular head of Eyewitness news and he was its conscience.

When you needed advice or direction on a story, he always had the right answer. His understanding of this community and how it functioned was, somehow, kaleidoscopic and nuanced at the same time.

He brought context to the news and dignity to the newsroom. He provided the core strength and integrity that powered a kinetic news organization. Vince Leonard was the foundation of Eyewitness News.

Trudy Haynes

I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to work with and get to know Vince Leonard during my early years at KYW-TV3, now CBS-3. We worked as a team on special assignment to Arizona to interview Senator Barry Goldwater, then a candidate for President of United States, and again on special assignment to cover the opening of Atlantic City’s first casino, Resorts International. Vince was a competent and devoted professional, a kind and considerate being you never forget.

R. Alan Campbell

I enjoyed Taylor Grant and the News on Channel Three but Vince Leonard won my attention. He was a great communicator: a Class act. Condolences to his family.

Member Vince Leonard
at his retirement party
Resorts International Hotel, Atlantic City
1980

BIO:

Vince Leonard made the decision to retire in 1980. Broadcast Pioneers member Al Primo, creator of the "Eyewitness News" format said, "Vince always had a plan to retire with his beloved wife while they were both young enough to enjoy themselves. He did that in Phoenix but was tempted back to broadcasting by the station out there. He ended his career there joyfully."

Vince Leonard was an air name. His given name, the name his paycheck came made out to, was Homer Venske. Leonard's last day on Channel 3 was May 30, 1980. During his time at Channel 3, Vince Leonard had anchored over 2,000 newscasts.

Leonard in February of 1980 said, "I guess there are positives and negatives about growing so big. When I first came to town (1958), we had 12 full timers, and no reporters as such. I got to spend part of the day in City Hall or on the streets or whatever. Today, everyone is a specialist, and I guess it has to be that way. But then I guess things had to get bigger. I would have done a few things differently over the years, but overall, management has done okay by me. There are probably not more than a handful of people in my position around the country who can say that."

Vince Leonard, a Navy pilot in World War II, came to Philadelphia in April of 1958 from Indianapolis, Indiana. Settling in Malvern, he replaced Broadcast Pioneers member Taylor Grant at Channel 3, which was WRCV-TV at the time. They operated out of a small television studio at 1619 Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia.

Member Vince Leonard & Wally Kinnan
in forefront of this photo
Philadelphia parade (which one is not known)
1958

When starting in 1958, the newscast was only 15 minutes long and five of that went to Wally Kinnan, "The Weather Man." Shortly thereafter, Jim Leaming joined the team doing sports. In those early days, when they ran film (usually shot the day before), they ran music in the background. Leonard was there in August of 1965 when KYW-TV News Director Al Primo instituted "Eyewitness News" and Vince stayed as anchor. Leonard and Channel 3 stayed on the top of the rating heap until 1971.

Speaking about Vince, Legendary Sportscaster and Broadcast Pioneers member Al Meltzer said, "He was super to work with. No ego, no temper, no nothin'. As a newsman, he was in a class with Broadcast Pioneers member John Facenda, without question. Personality-wise, Vince probably was the lowest-key person on the air I've ever worked with. He did it the way the textbook said you should do it. No one did it any better than he did in this market, that's for sure. You had confidence in this dude. When he said something, it was "The Word." Off camera, Vince Leonard was "was one of the funniest dudes I've ever known," Meltzer adds. "He had a great sense of humor. He loved to play cards all night. He liked to gamble and hoist one with the boys."

Here's a little about Vince written by the person who knew him best, Vince Leonard himself. He told us in an e-mail during 2002:

I was hired as the Esso reporter in April of 1958. That was the 11 o'clock news which, at the time, was only a 10 minute program followed by Judy Lee and the weather. As I recall Esso stayed with us for several years.

Pulse of the News was on at 6:40, if my memory serves me correctly, and was only a five-minute newscast, often featuring interviews with city officials. That, of course, was not sponsored by Esso.

Having just one sponsor in those days was interesting because often I had to speak at Esso dealership meetings and attend other functions in New York with the ad agency people.

My wife and I are really enjoying our retirement even after more than 12 years of taking it easy. Only one bad thing about retirement......one never gets a day off! We have done quite a bit of traveling during those years and my hobbies are golf, reading, the computer and keeping active and doing everything to try to stay in shape.

We have visited with Mort Crim and his wife and they have been coming ... a couple of times a year when he has speaking engage- at one of the conventions. Recently, we were in Colorado visiting with old friends Bill and Dottie Kuster. He retired a couple of years ago from KUSA TV in Denver. We stay in touch with Malcolm Poindexter by letter and e-mail as well as with others outside of broadcasting who are friends from 35 and 40 years ago.

So, to sum up, we are not bored. We've always loved the desert and sunshine and we have plenty of both here.... Now that I've told you more than your cared to know about me, my best wishes to you and the Broadcast Pioneers. It's an organization of which I'm proud to be a member.