Politico Lunch

National politicos dissect Clinton-Trump presidential battle at lively bipartisan luncheon

Politics may make strange bedfellows, but it also can form the basis for an interesting discussion of the current presidential election. That was the case at the University of Houston's Hobby School for Public Affairs annual luncheon, which drew two of the nation's foremost authorities on the Clinton-Trump race.

Former longtime Houston Chronicle political reporter Julie Mason, who hosts the popular Press Pool on Sirius XM's POTUS channel 124, heard weekdays (2-5 pm local time) from her Washington, D.C. base, returned to the Bayou City to headline the discussion with David Cay Johnston, author of The Making of Donald Trump, and a top expert on the New York real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate.

Texas Monthly executive director Mimi Swartz moderated the lively discussion during the luncheon in the lovely surroundings of the Houston Public Library Julia Ideson Building Reading Room.

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit the 2017 Hobby Fellows program, which offers UH undergraduate students a chance to work as full-time interns during the legislative session in Austin.

The bipartisan crowd included honorary co-chairs Mayor Sylvester Turner and State Rep. Sarah Davis, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, former Houston first lady Elyse Lanier, Harris County Clerk Stan Stannert, former Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, UH Hobby School of Public Affairs executive director Jim Granato, HSPA associate director Rene Cross,former State Rep. Peggy Hamric, event chair Kathryn McNiel, Kris and Neil Thomas, Delores Chambers, Katy Caldwell, Mary Flood, and Juan Palomo.

Elyse Lanier, Julie Mason.

Courtesy photo

Elyse Lanier, Julie Mason.

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Public memorials and services set for 'Houston's anchorman' Dave Ward

Photo courtesy of Dave Ward

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ABC13 anchor emeritus Dave Ward died on December 13 at age 86.

Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to the longtime newsman at visitations and funeral services this week. Plans include:

Wednesday, Dec. 17: Ward will lie in repose from 11 am-6 pm at the Crimestoppers of Houston Dave Ward Building, 3001 Main St., Houston, TX 77002.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Public visitation open to all at George H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors at 1010 Bering Dr., Houston, TX 77057 from 11 am-2 pm and 4-8 pm
Friday, Dec. 19: Funeral service open to the public at 12 pm at St. Martin's Episcopal Church at 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056.

ABC13 will carry the funeral live on television and streaming platforms.

For more than 50 years, Dave was Houston's anchorman. He began each newscast with his signature line, "Good evening, friends." That's how the legendary newsman felt about the viewers who shared his love for the city he was so proud to call his home.

His name was David Henry Ward, but he was known to thousands of Eyewitness News viewers simply as "Dave." Born in Dallas in 1939, Dave grew up in Huntsville and began his radio career with KGKB Radio in Tyler while attending college. Three years later, he joined the staff of WACO Radio as a staff announcer and quickly climbed to Program Director the following year.

Dave moved to Houston in 1962, where he worked for KNUZ Radio as a News Reporter and News Director for four years. He made the move to Channel 13 in 1966 as the station's only on-the-street news reporter and photographer, coming "inside" in early 1967 to anchor Channel 13's weekday 7 am. newscast.

Later that year, he became the first host of the wildly popular "Dialing for Dollars" program, which later evolved into "Good Morning Houston." Houston viewers flocked to see him and hear him, and by January 1968, Dave became the anchor of Eyewitness News at 6 and 10 pm.

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Read more about Dave Ward’s life and legacy, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

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