Jim Vance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Vance
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Vance in 2011
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James Howard Vance III
January 10, 1942 Ardmore, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | July 22, 2017 (aged 75) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Alma mater | Cheyney University |
| Occupation | Television news anchor (1969–2017) |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy McCampbell Vance |
| Children | 3 |
James Howard Vance III (January 10, 1942 – July 22, 2017) was a famous American television news anchor. He was well-known in Washington, D.C. for his long career.
Contents
Growing Up: Jim Vance's Early Life
Jim Vance was born on January 10, 1942. He grew up in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, a town near Philadelphia. His family, including his grandparents, helped raise him.
As a teenager, Jim thought about becoming a plumber. However, his family encouraged him to go to college. He earned a degree in education from Cheyney University. This was a historically black university in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. At Cheyney, he joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He also became lifelong friends with Ed Bradley, another famous journalist.
Jim Vance's Amazing Career in News
Jim Vance started his news career as a reporter. He worked for the Philadelphia Independent newspaper. He also worked at WHAT-AM radio station. At the same time, he taught English at Overbrook High School.
A friend told him about a new news job at WKBS-TV. Jim tried out and realized he loved being a reporter. After one year at WKBS-TV, he joined NBC News. In 1969, he started working for WRC-TV in Washington, D.C..
Becoming a Pioneer: Early Anchoring Roles
From 1972 to 1976, Jim Vance was a main co-anchor with Glenn Rinker. This made him one of the first African Americans to hold such a position in the United States. Between 1976 and 1980, he co-anchored with Sue Simmons. This was one of the first times two African-American anchors led a major newscast.
Longest-Running Anchor Team in D.C.
Starting in 1989, Jim Vance teamed up with Doreen Gentzler. They became the longest-running anchor team in Washington D.C. television. Their 11 PM newscasts often had more viewers than three major cable news networks combined. These networks were CNN, Fox, and MSNBC.
Jim Vance also became an internet sensation. He and sports anchor George Michael were seen laughing at a model who fell. This video got millions of views online.
Jim Vance's TV Appearances and Awards
Jim Vance appeared as himself in the 2009 movie State of Play. He also appeared in episodes of the NBC series The Event (2010) and The Blacklist (2013).
He won many awards for his work. Jim earned 19 Emmy Awards. One Emmy was for his reporting on the 1977 Hanafi Siege in Washington, D.C. He also won for covering the Air Florida Flight 90 crash in 1982. Another Emmy was for a Metrorail train derailment on the same day. He was also recognized for his coverage of Super Bowl XXII.
Vance received multiple Emmy Awards for being an outstanding news anchor. These wins were in 1987, 1991, 1997, 1999, and 2011. In 1999, he also won an award as a producer and reporter for WRC-TV's News4 at 6 broadcast. In 2014, Jim Vance received the Board of Governor's Award. This award recognized his great achievements and community service.
In 2007, Jim Vance was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. He was also named "Washingtonian of the Year" by Washingtonian magazine in 1976. He received many other awards for helping his community.
Jim Vance's Family Life
Jim Vance lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. He had a daughter named Dawn from his first marriage. He also raised a second daughter, Amani. Later, in 1987, he married Kathy McCampbell Vance. She was a television producer. He also had a stepson, Brendon, and two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Jim Vance's Passing
In May 2017, Jim Vance shared that he was battling lung cancer. He continued to work while receiving treatment. Jim Vance passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 22, 2017, at age 75. At the time of his death, he had been a television news anchor for over 45 years at WRC-TV. He was the longest-serving anchor in the region.
