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  • The Balanced Voice Team
    • Sep 16, 2020
    • 3 min read

Ep. 1 | Dave Ward & Bill Balleza


We are absolutely thrilled to sit down with Houston Media Icon, Dave Ward, and the legendary, Bill Balleza for our premier episode of The Balanced Voice. This podcast came out of an identified need in the community to have difficult but balanced conversations that offer real solutions in a divided world. This seems like an impossible task for most but is one that Houstonians navigate with ease. Houston is a community that stays together even when our views differ. We believe this is due to our leadership.

We found it fitting to turn to one such leader to premier the podcast—Dave Ward. Dave is not only our building’s namesake and The Voice of Houston but also made history for covering Houston news for over 50 years at one station! Dave quickly agreed to join us and together, we invited his longtime friend and KPRC colleague, the legendary, Bill Balleza to join as well. What evolved was not just a first-time interview of both men together but an incredible conversation!


 

About Dave Ward:

During his time as an anchor, Dave Ward “strove to deliver a balanced newscast by covering both sides of an issue and above all getting the facts correct.” Dave’s incredible career includes interviewing 5 sitting US Presidents, US Vice President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, 5 astronauts (all around one table), reporting on the space program from the Florida launch for all shuttle flights, and so much more. In 2011, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences named Dave a Silver Circle Inductee. By 2016, Dave was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest running anchor on any one station at a time.

Dave played an invaluable role in establishing Crime Stoppers of Houston as a household name and a critical resource in the Greater Houston Community. In the 80’s he created a series of crime reenactment videos and every night directed community members to our famed Tip Line by saying, “Crime Stoppers will pay up to a 5,000 cash reward this week for information leading to the arrest and charging of the person involved in any felony crime. Call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.” Thank you, Dave, for your ongoing commitment to our mission!

To learn more about Dave Ward or to purchase his book, please visit his website https://davewardshouston.com/ and follow him online:

Instagram: @davewardhouston


 

About Bill Balleza:

Bill Balleza is a Vietnam Veteran and is equally as beloved by the Houston community. Bill’s career has been marked by events such as covering the death of Pope John Paul II, the Murrah Federal Building explosion in Oklahoma City, and the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in New York just one month post the 9/11 attacks. He also received an Emmy in 2013 for his reporting on the deadly explosion of a fertilizer company in West. Bill has been said to be “a calming factor in a sea of chaotic news stories.” Bill recently retired from KPRC and now spends his time mastering the art of woodworking. In this episode Bill stresses the importance of separating editorial opinion and news and why he believes reports should be apolitical.

To learn more about Bill Balleza, checkout this article written by The Balanced Voice Volunteer Expert, Joy Sewing and follow Bill online:

 

You can tune into the episode here, and make sure you never miss The Balanced Voice by subscribing through your favorite podcast platform.


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