Valley Press Club honors Ray Hershel for lifetime of newsDate: 11/9/2017 WEST SPRINGFIELD – Ray Hershel of Western Mass News may not be retiring as yet, but his nearly 50 years on air as a reporter was celebrated on Nov. 2 with The Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Valley Press Club.
Friends, family members and colleagues gathered at the Carriage House at the Eastern States Exposition grounds for the event that was at times a loving tribute and at times a joyous roast.
Speaking to Reminder Publications, Hershel said he was honored to have been recognized by the Valley Press Club that also gave the same award to Durham Caldwell, his former news director at WHYN radio and television.
Caldwell, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was the man who gave Hershel, a Chicopee native and a new graduate of Emerson College, his start in the industry, Hershel recalled how nervous he was – “I was shaking like a leaf.” – when Caldwell ripped some radio copy off of the UPI newswire sent Hershel into a recording booth to read for an audition.
“He gave me a chance,” he added and praised his former boss as someone who “led by example.”
Hershel shared the award not only with Caldwell, but also with two other colleagues from the station: the late Jack O’Neill and Barbara Bernard.
Hershel started his career on April 15, 1968 on radio and later made the switch to television.
Hershel’s friends and colleagues, Western Mass News anchors Dave Madsen and Beth Ward, emceed the speaking program. They were effusive in their praise of him as a reporter, but also shared insights about Hershel’s sense of humor. Ward recalled with affection when she first came to the station and shared an anchor desk with Hershel, he would try to break her up.
No matter what though, Ward said, “He was always a gentleman.”
Madsen and Ward read a number of congratulatory messages from former colleagues such as reporter and anchor Joan Goodman, who called Hershel a “mensch” and recalled running her hand through Hershel’s legendary hair once to see if it was real – it was and is.
Hershel assured his wife Maureen, who was in the audience, it only happened once.
State. Sen. James Welch, West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt and Springfield City Councilor Kateri Walsh all read citations issued to honor Hershel.
During his acceptance speech, Hershel praised the people who helped him along the way. He recalled an early assignment at Westover Air Reserve Base in 1968 with returning prisoners of war. The weather was so cold the Bolex 16mm film camera was affected. He said that photographer Derek “Dan” Jarvis, who was in the audience, nestled the camera in a blanket and warmed it enough so it was operating again, saving the day.
That story helped him start his career on camera, he added.
Hershel noted how his career has gone from writing stories on a typewriter with carbon paper to the use of digital equipment.
He also exclaimed thanks and amazement that his time has a reporter has allowed him to travel around the country and to foreign destination such as the Vatican and to cover eight presidents who have come to Massachusetts.
He praised his most recent videographers Bob Hastings and Jeff Kurowski for their collaboration and thanked his wife for allowing him to maintain a job with odd hours that frequently kept him away from home during the time they were raising their three children.
Even after nearly 50 years, though, Hershel admitted every day has the potential for an interesting story and that he still relishes his job as a reporter.
He said he intends to have his last day be April 16, 2018 so he can complete a full half-century on the air. He added he would like to retire, but he would be available if Western Mass News wishes to bring him in for special assignments.
With a smile, he said, “It’s time for a new chapter.”
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