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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR RICHARD LEON "RICH" O'DELL, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WLTX-TV, FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE PALMETTO STATE THROUGHOUT HIS TWENTY YEARS AS AN OUTSTANDING BROADCASTER WITH WLTX.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the dedication that Rich O'Dell has contributed to broadcasting in the Midlands for the past two decades; and
Whereas, born in the small German farming community of St. Peter, Illinois, young Rich O'Dell worked in his father's grocery store, bagging potatoes and selling watermelons; and
Whereas, he studied Radio-TV at Southern Illinois University, beginning his broadcasting career there in the record library at WSIU radio in 1968; and
Whereas, since 1972, Mr. O'Dell has been at home in the television broadcast industry where for thirty years he served in almost every role imaginable inside news stations, including executive producer, director, manager of programming, and production manager; and
Whereas, in 1999, Gannett purchased WLTX-TV in Columbia and brought Mr. O'Dell on board to run the operation because he was known as an innovator in the industry. He began his two decades of leadership at WLTX by doubling the physical size of the building and transforming the station into a major voice in the market that now dominates the social media landscape of broadcast; and
Whereas, committed to mentoring the next generation of journalists by helping them to understand the power of their craft, Mr. O'Dell has worked with the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina; and
Whereas, he energetically has served his community as a board member for numerous organizations, including the Columbia Urban League, Palmetto Health Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and Cultural Council of Columbia and as president of his church council; and
Whereas, in 2018, Mr. O'Dell was fittingly honored with induction into both the South Carolina Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and the Gold Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast Chapter; and
Whereas, he has boldly used the influence of WLTX News19 to be a voice for the voiceless in the community, to speak for people who would otherwise not be heard, and to make a positive impact on the lives of those served by WLTX; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful to Rich O'Dell for his consummate devotion and excellence in television broadcast and his deep commitment to his community. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Richard Leon "Rich" O'Dell, President and General Manager of WLTX, for his distinguished service to the citizens of the Palmetto State throughout his twenty years as an outstanding broadcaster with WLTX.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Richard Leon "Rich" O'Dell.
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