Nelson Sears
American broadcaster (1926–2021)
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Nelson Sears (1926–2021) was an American television broadcaster. He reported news and weather for the television station WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Later on, he became a program manager.
Early life
Sears was born in 1926.[1] According to Sears, he was raised in York, Pennsylvania.[2] His father died when Sears was five years old, and Sears was raised by his blind mother.[2] In 1943, aged 17, he joined the United States Navy during World War II.[2] He participated in the Normandy landings but never landed because a mine struck his boat.[2] Later, he served in the Pacific Ocean and participated in the Battle of Okinawa.[2]
Career
After being discharged in 1947, Sears studied at the American Television Institute in Chicago. He joined WGAL in January 1949,[3] two months before the television station first went on the air.[3][2] He worked as a news anchor, weather reporter, reporter, program director, and promotions manager.[4][1] Sears was promoted to program manager in 1966 and remained a full-time anchor until about 1977.[3] He returned to the air for large events such as the Three Mile Island accident in 1979.[3] The Intelligencer Journal says Sears brought The Oak Ridge Boys to mainstream appeal when he sent a tape to Mike Douglas.[2]
Sears retired from WGAL in 1994 after 45 years.[3] He returned to WGAL in March 2009 for its 60 year anniversary special.[5] In December 2016, Sears was inducted into the WGAL Hall of Fame.[6]
Personal life and death
Sears had a wife named Sara. He had two sons, Randall and Russell. As of 1994 he had two granddaughters.[3]
Sears was a chairman of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Lancaster County Chapter.[7] Sears was a chair of the Urban League of Lancaster County.[8] He was a trustee of Millersville University.[9]
Sears died in December 2021, at the age of 95.[1]