J. Spencer Kinard

In January 1972, Kinard was invited to audition for the position of announcer. He was introduced to the choir the next week and officially took over the helm at the Tabernacle Choir's Music and the Spoken Word broadcast in February 1972, where he continued for 18 years.^[1][3] In the meantime he remained at KSL, where he gradually gained more responsibilities and eventually became news director.

On November 1, 1990, the Deseret News reported that Kinard had resigned as vice president of news and public affairs for KSL:

Kinard has been the subject of rumors about his relationship with KSL anchorwoman Jennifer Howe. Allegations within the Channel 5 newsroom that Kinard advanced Howe's career at the expense of other KSL employees led to widespread dissatisfaction among the staff for the past few months. Both Kinard and Howe deny those allegations. Howe is still on the KSL payroll, but she has not been on the air since Oct. 18. She is visiting her parents in Dallas. After a weeklong series of meetings, Kinard was placed on a medical leave from the station on Oct. 19. He reportedly was suffering from overwork and stress.^[4]

The next day, the Deseret News followed up with an article entitled "Kinard - At His Request - Is Released From Choir Post".

Kinard went on to become deputy director of the Utah Travel Council, where he worked for nearly twelve years until his 2006 retirement.^[2] Kinard is a member of the board of trustees of the University of Utah.^[5] He has been chairman of the national Radio-Television News Directors Association and was president of the University of Utah Alumni Association (2005–08).^[2]

• Kinard biography at the official Music and the Spoken Word website