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Gary LaPierre

Gary LaPierre
A man speaking into a microphone
LaPierre at WBZ
Born(1942-04-14)April 14, 1942[1]
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 4, 2019(2019-02-04) (aged 76)
Ipswich, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Alma materGrahm Junior College
OccupationRadio broadcaster
Years active1961–2006
Known forWBZ (AM) radio news anchor

Gary LaPierre (April 14, 1942 – February 4, 2019)[1] was a radio and television journalist, who spent most of his career with WBZ, an all-news radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. He also made appearances on WBZ-TV's news broadcasts, often filling in as a substitute anchor. LaPierre retired in 2006 after 40 years at the anchor desk.[2] He had started at WBZ in 1964 as a general news reporter. One of his first assignments was covering the arrival of the Beatles, when they came to greater Boston to perform. [3]

Early life and career

Born in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, LaPierre graduated from Grahm Junior College and attended the University of New Hampshire and Boston University.[4] His first job in radio was with WHAV in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1961.[5] He then worked briefly in New Hampshire before joining WBZ, where he would work for a total of 43 years.[5]

LaPierre was heard on WBZ for a number of years giving a daily commentary, "LaPierre on the Loose". He was also heard doing commercials for various advertisers. In 1999, he played Ebenezer Scrooge in WBZ's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. This version has been played every Christmas Eve since then.[citation needed]

Personal life

LaPierre was married, and had two sons.[6] He underwent heart bypass surgery in 2005.[7] He died at his home in Ipswich, Massachusetts, on February 4, 2019, from leukemia at age 76.[8]

Honors and awards

In 1998, LaPierre received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Emerson College.[4] He was also inducted in the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame,[9] in 2010.[10] Other awards include:[4]

  • Gold Award for Best Newsman of the Year, at the International Radio Festival in New York City (1986)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, from the March of Dimes Achievement in Radio Organization (1997)
  • Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Newscast, presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association (1998)
  • Associated Press Award for Documentary of the Year
  • San Francisco Award for Best Investigative Journalism

References

  1. ^ a b "Obituary for Mr. Gary J. LaPierre". tributes.com. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "Gary LaPierre gives his final broadcast on WBZ". Boston.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ Bryan Marquard, "Gary LaPierre, WBZ-AM anchorman admired for his voice and trustworthiness, dies at 76," Boston Globe, February 7, 2019. [1]
  4. ^ a b c "WBZ Biography". wbz.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009 – via Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ a b Seaman, Larry (June 10, 2016). "Interview with Gary LaPierre Around Town Sneak Peek WHAV radio Stars". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Interview". The Boston Globe. March 2, 1986. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Good news at WBZ radio". The Boston Globe. November 9, 2005. p. E2. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Retired longtime Boston radio, television journalist Gary LaPierre dies at 76". WCVB. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  9. ^ "CBS Boston Biography". boston.cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016 – via Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ Brown, Joel (January 6, 2011). "Broadcasters Hall of Fame inducts local luminaries". The Boston Globe. p. NO1. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via newspapers.com.

Further reading
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