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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area TELEVISION and RADIO PERSONALITIES Historical Photo Gallery - click on image to view > Early to mid 1950's - Ralph Renick on WTVJ-TV Channel 4
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Early to mid 1950's Film clip frame

Early to mid 1950's - Ralph Renick on WTVJ-TV Channel 4

316 N. Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida


"Good night and may the good news be yours!"

Ralph Renick was born on August 9, 1928 and died on July 11, 1991. He started as an intern on South Florida's first TV station, WTVJ-TV Channel 4, in March 1949 after he graduated from the University of Miami. He became the face of WTVJ News for the next 36 years and was a true legend in South Florida. WTVJ was owned by Wometco Enterprises, founded and run by Colonel Mitchell Wolfson

WTVJ-TV became affiliated with the CBS network in 1956. WCKT-TV Channel 7 (now WSVN-TV) started broadcasting that same year as an NBC affiliate. In the late 50's WPST-TV Channel 10 (now WPLG-TV) came alive as an ABC affiliate. Ralph remained the dominant and number one rated news anchor despite the competition.

Ralph began broadcasting nightly editorials "The Ralph Renice Report" on his evening news shows in 1957 and they lasted 30 years. He named Dr. Manolo Reyes, one of the first Spanish-language broadcasters, to launch Miami's first Spanish newscast on WTVJ-TV in 1960.

Mitchell Wolfson died in 1983 and Wometco Enteerprises was sold off to an investment firm (KKR- Kolberg, Kravitz and Roberts), a large leveraged buyout of one billion dollars. Ralph, who had only reported to Mitchell Wolfson instead of a general manager, had that authority diminished, making it unbearable to continue working and he made the decision to leave the station.

Ralph joined WCIX-TV Channel 6 (then independent, now WFOR-TV Channel 4 in a three-way channel swap with Channels 4, 6 and 7) to do a nightly commentary on their news program. He retired in September 1990 due to failing health.

Ralph died at the age of 62 on July 11, 1991, at Cedar Medical Center in Miami after months of complications from liver disease and hepatitis. His wife Dane predeceased him in 1964. They had six children. He was a long-time devout Catholic and his funeral mass was held at St. Mary's Cathedral with Archbishop Edward McCarthy presiding. WTVJ-TV covered the funeral live on a two-hour special report and his funeral was the lead news story on every Miami station.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06U7uhK1YS4 - a great 8-minute YouTube video of WTVJ-TV's newscast on the day Ralph Renick died, with numerous old newscasts and historical facts.

http://www.nbc6.net/station/1221683/detail.html - WTVJ-TV's history website


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Don Boyd02-May-2010 02:35
Guest, I'm sorry, I thought you were directing your comment at the site. I failed to scroll down to see if there was another connection. Thanks for liking the site.

Don
Guest 01-May-2010 21:20
I didn't see that but...
I wasn't referring to you Mr. Boyd but rather to the comment quote of "tight lines and good fishing". Excellent site if I may add.
Don Boyd28-Apr-2010 20:30
Isn't that what it says under the photo? Or am I seeing things right under the address of the station?

Don
Guest 28-Apr-2010 13:18
Apparently you have forgotten Ralph's trademark sign-off.

It was, "and may the good news be yours."
Ray Grafflin 15-Jun-2009 14:43
I was a Sophmore at St Mary's when Ralph was a Senior. He allowed me a "bid" for the Prom that year, and I took a classmate, her first name was Martha, and I am truly sorry to say I cannot remember her family name. My humble apologies to Martha if she is still around and reading this! I do know that I had a marvelous evening ma'am!
Guest 22-Mar-2009 01:10
I too grew up in the Ralph Renick era. He was a main stay in the evening in our house. Today even, I hold every news caster to Mr. Renicks high standard. And who could ever forget his closing line, "Tight lines and good fishing?"
Barbara Firestine 15-Mar-2009 21:11
My mother worked with Ralph at WTVJ and I knew his children they lived very close to my home in Biscayne Gardens then.
I think he lost his first wife and remarried but I am not real clear about that.
He was a very nice man and I know a good friend to my mother.
I loved going to the station and spending time whatching what went on behind the camera.
K Martin 06-Mar-2009 21:24
I grew up in the Ralph Renick era and had the pleasure of meeting him in person on the day the Bay of Pigs prisoners were released and taken to Miami's dinner key marina. He seemed a very nice man and a concerned human being re: the situation as they all disembarked buses to finally meet family members who were there to greet them. I lived nearby off US 1 and 32nd ave near the boys club of Miami and wanted to see what was happening and walked to event. A memory I've kept for years. I was only 12 at the time. Miami was a great place to grow up in and I sometimes wished I had never left.