6 News WOWT Anchor John Knicely celebrates 50 years in broadcasting [Video]

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – It‘s a big day here at 6 News WOWT — there’s even balloons!

They’re above John Knicely’s desk because Wednesday, we’re celebrating his 50 years in broadcasting.

It’s quite a milestone.

Fifty years of experience logged on film, tape, and now digital archives.

That’s a lot of material.

A few weeks ago, I asked John if had any stories I might not know about. He brought me a box of tapes — and his VHS player.

On one of them, a practice newscast secretly recorded in Texas to see if John Knicely, who was working at another Omaha TV station at the time, could make the switch from sports to news.

The answer was yes. And so began the John Knicely era as news anchor.

KNICELY BEGINNINGS

John started his broadcasting career here at WOWT in the sports department — …