Trudy Haynes facts for kids

Trudy Haynes (born Gertrude Daniels; November 23, 1926 – June 7, 2022) was an amazing American news reporter. She made history as the first African American TV weather reporter in the country. This happened when she joined WXYZ-TV in Detroit in 1963.

Later, in 1965, she became the first African American TV news reporter for KYW-TV (now CBS-3) in Philadelphia. She worked there until she retired in 1999. Trudy Haynes won an Emmy Award and two Lifetime Achievement Awards during her 33 years at KYW-TV. She was even hosting her own online show, "The Trudy Haynes Show," when she passed away.

Early Life and Education

Trudy Haynes was born in New York City on November 23, 1926. She was the only child of Marjorie and Percy Daniels. Trudy went to several schools and graduated from Forest Hills High School in Queens, Long Island. Back then, schools were often separated by race, so she had to be driven by bus to her school. At Forest Hills, she became the only African American cheerleader on her high school team.

In 1943, she was accepted into Howard University. There, she studied sociology and psychology. Trudy Haynes earned her bachelor's degree in 1947.

A Trailblazing Career

Before she became a famous news reporter, Trudy Haynes started her career in a different way. In the early 1950s, she worked with the Ophelia DeVore Charm and Modeling Agency. Ophelia DeVore was known for being one of the first people to use black models and sell products to African American customers during a time of racial separation and the Civil Rights Movement.

Trudy Haynes said that modeling was "just fun" for her. She appeared in several advertisements. She was even the first African American to appear on a poster ad for Lucky Strike cigarettes! Later, she taught other people who wanted to be models, including famous stars like Diahann Carroll.

Breaking into Broadcasting

In 1956, Trudy Haynes took her first step toward her true passion: broadcasting. She was hired by WCHB, a radio station in Inkster, Michigan. This station was special because it was the first radio station owned by African Americans north of the Mason–Dixon line.

Trudy started as a receptionist. But the station's director soon noticed her talent. He asked her if she wanted to be on a show. Trudy said yes! She became the "Women's Editor" for WCHB. She practiced her interviewing skills by hosting a daily 90-minute show for women.

In 1963, Trudy Haynes left radio and moved to television. She became the first African American weather reporter on ABC's WXYZ-TV in Southfield, Michigan, near Detroit. Just two years later, in 1965, Trudy Haynes made history again. She was hired as the first African American news reporter for KYW-TV (now CBS 3) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She worked there until she retired in 1999.

Trudy Haynes explained that she was very brave to seek these jobs. She said she "overheard a conversation" about a station looking for a new reporter. Even though the person they were replacing was "blonde and blue-eyed," Trudy called the station and said she was interested. She felt that the station manager, John Final, was also brave for even interviewing a black person at that time.

Trudy Haynes faced challenges because she was a black woman trying to get on TV when most reporters were white men. She said, "Color is so obvious in this country... Every black person feels that. And every female that's breaking into (an all-male) situation probably feels the same way."

In the 1970s, Trudy Haynes became the first African American judge for the Miss America Contest. She helped change the rules that kept African American women from participating. Her efforts opened doors for women of color to become contestants in a competition that used to be only for white women. She was a judge for three years.

Continuing Media Work

Even after retiring from KYW-TV, Trudy Haynes stayed very active in the media world. She lived in Philadelphia and continued to work as a freelance reporter. She also made guest appearances on many local TV shows. These included Philly Connection on WPHL-TV, The Good News on PAX-TV, and Let's Talk About It and Trudy Haynes Discovers Delaware on Comcast Cable.

Trudy Haynes also started her own company called First Run Film/Video. Through this company, she created her own TV show segments. She also became an important member of the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition (now Philly Cam). This group works to create public-access cable channels in the Philadelphia area.

In 2012, Trudy Haynes produced a local TV show for the Philadelphia area on Comcast's Bounce TV. This was the first national TV network owned by African Americans.

In 2013, Trudy Haynes moved her popular show, "The Trudy Haynes Show," online. It became an on-demand show with LifeandSpiritOnline.com. The show continued to share important information with the African American community about health, education, and politics. It also featured local community events.

In 2015, Trudy Haynes became a co-host for "Good Day, Good Health!" This program taught people about new medical discoveries and how to live healthier lives.

Famous Interviews

During her time at KYW-TV, Trudy Haynes reported on many local stories. She covered local politics, City Hall, and School Board meetings. Over time, she interviewed many important people. These included mayors of Philadelphia and governors of Pennsylvania.

She also interviewed famous national figures like Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., former President Lyndon B. Johnson, former Vice President of the United States Hubert Humphrey, and former Teamster Union leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Later, she started interviewing celebrities. Her connections in the entertainment world led KYW-TV to create a segment called "Trudy's Grapevine," where she shared celebrity news. She also hosted local public affairs shows like "Sunny Side Up" and "Sunday magazine".

Awards and Community Work

Trudy Haynes was part of many professional groups. She was a lifetime member of the NAACP and the National Urban League Guild. She also helped raise money for the United Negro College Fund for five years while working at KYW-TV.

In 1990, she created a scholarship fund for excellent students in the Philadelphia area. In 1995, she won an Emmy Award for her work. Four years later, she was added to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.

Trudy Haynes felt that her biggest achievement was "crossing a line in this field." She said, "I've been very well accepted, I think generally, by all races... In any of these neighborhoods I go into, I'm welcomed."

Here are some of the many awards and honors Trudy Haynes received:

• 1975: Honorary Citizen Bethlehem, PA Citizen Award
• 1977: City Of Philadelphia Citation Presented By Mayor Frank Rizzo
• 1987: Outstanding Alumnus, Howard University Alumni Club Of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.
• 1990: Twenty-fifth Anniversary In Broadcasting Recognition, Presented At The White House By President George Herbert Bush
• 1990: The Trudy Haynes Scholarship Foundation For Broadcasting For The UNCF; Created In Honor Of Trudy's 25 Years, By KYW-3
• 1995: UNCF Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1995: "Emmy” National Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences
• 1999: National Coalition Of 100 Black Women For Life Time Achievement As A Broadcast Journalist
• 2008: NAACP 100 Influential Black Women In Philadelphia Award
• 2012: The Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund Legacy Award, For Being A Trailblazer In Broadcast Communications