“Among my most poignant memories are the Xenia Tornado of 1974, the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995, and the San Francisco earthquake of 1989,” says Baldridge.
Baldridge has reported from China, Vietnam, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Japan, Colombia and throughout Europe, including Berlin, as the Wall came down. His military background and passion for those serving our country made him a natural choice to host coverage of the world-famous Dayton Air Show. “Among my favorite memories are the almost 30 Dayton Air Show broadcasts I did with my friend General Ed Mechenbier, an authentic American hero.”
“By any measure, personal contributions, local knowledge, professionalism or length of service, Jim is a nothing short of a broadcast icon in Dayton television,” says WHIO-TV VP and General Manager Harry Delaney “He is a homegrown, hometown favorite who excelled to the heights of broadcast journalism, and he embodies the high standards of WHIO-TV.”
Baldridge grew up in Lima, Ohio. He started his broadcasting career in May of 1964 while still a Senior at Lima Shawnee High School. Baldridge served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969 with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. He graduated from Sinclair Community College and Wright State University, and worked for several other local broadcast stations before finding his home at WHIO-TV in 1972.
“I have worked with -- and learned from -- many extraordinary people at WHIO,” says Baldridge. “The late Don Wayne and Gil Whitney are among the most memorable of my early years. I will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stan Mouse, the WHIO general manager who hired me away from channel 2.”
“Serving the viewer has always been Jim’s top priority. He’s earned the trust of millions of viewers during his career,” says Delaney. “Jim represents all that is good about WHIO-TV.”
For nearly two decades, Baldridge and co-anchor Cheryl McHenry have formed one of the longest running anchor teams in America. “I consider Cheryl McHenry the heart of today’s WHIO-TV news -- a wonderful professional journalist, and a wonderful person.”
News Center 7 Anchor James Brown will be assuming the anchor responsibilities for the 5pm and 6pm newscasts along with his current duties anchoring News Center 7 at 5:30pm with Cheryl McHenry and 11pm with Letitia Perry. Brown, who was born in Wilmington and lived in Lebanon, has been with WHIO-TV for the past seven years.
“We’ve very fortunate to have a strong journalist like James ready to continue the tradition of Jim and the other great news anchors here at News Center 7,” says WHIO-TV News Director David Bennallack.
"Jim is an impeccable journalist!” says Brown. “He is one of the smartest people I've met. I am very thankful to work in the same newsroom with him the past seven years.” About his own future, Brown says “I am honored WHIO-TV wants me to help carry on our station's rich tradition of news excellence."
Baldridge plans to remain in the Miami Valley upon his retirement. “My wife Sue and I expect that the Dayton area will always be our home. We love to travel and to spend time with our children and our grandchildren, but we have many friends and many wonderful memories here.”
About Jim Baldridge: Will be 62 in August. Grew up in Lima, Ohio. Graduated from Lima Shawnee High School (’64), Sinclair Community College, and Wright State University. Served in the US Army 1966-1969 (Armed Forced Radio and Television Service).
Broadcasting career began 45 years ago (May, 1964) at WCIT, Lima, Ohio. Also worked at WIZE radio in Springfield, WING radio in Dayton, and WLWD-TV (now WDTN) in Dayton.
Married for almost 39 years to Sue (Chandler) Baldridge. Two children and two grandchildren.
WHIO-TV Channel 7 is a Cox Television Station and CBS Affiliate. Cox Television includes 15 television stations, 3 national television sales representation firms, a television production company, and a Washington D.C. news bureau. Cox Television is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta.
For more information contact Tony Getts, WHIO Creative Services Director at 937-259-2090 or e-mail at tony.getts@whiotv.com