Published: Aug. 28, 2024 at 12:01 PM EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - After a 40-year career in journalism, longtime Louisville news anchor and WAVE Troubleshooter John Boel announces his retirement.
Boel has spent his time in Louisville working for WLKY and then WAVE. Throughout his career, Boel has won 106 Emmys and 17 Murrow Awards for his storytelling and published two books. His last day at WAVE will be Feb. 28, 2025.
“When I got to rehab in Nov 2010, I thought my life & career were over. Couple days after arriving, a counselor at Hazelden handed me the St Paul Pioneer Press because it had an article he wanted me to read. It happened to be about a guy I idolized in college named Don Shelby- a legendary anchor & I-Team leader at WCCO-TV. The guy I wanted to be like. The story was news to me. It detailed the plunge he suffered because of alcoholism. But he’d gone to treatment, turned around his life, and was happily retiring after a career fulfilled.
They handed me that story to give me hope. But I sat there and wept because it all seemed so unreachable & impossible at that point in my crashed life.
A wonderful thing happened after that. People encouraged me while at the same time delivering honest blows about my character defects- a long list. They told me I could get there too if I did what I was told and put it in the hands of a higher power. I got the same kind of encouragement, support & honesty from countless people after the plane landed back in Louisville and thereafter. One thing led to another. An offer from WAVE. Job promotions. Incredible coworkers. Paid off debt. Journalism achievements. Better family life. Successful kids. Growth as a person. And now - I’m happy to announce my own retirement.
Career fulfilled, just like Don.
My last newscast will be 6 months from today- Feb 28th. Lot of time between now and then for all the thank you’s. So many wonderful people over the past 14 years helped put me back together after a great fall. All failures in life are opportunities. And I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to embed myself in 2 beautiful families, WLKY & WAVE, instead of just one.
I’ve spent 40 years in this biz trying to help people. But there are some others back in WI who need my help. I’m looking forward to doing that as a son/brother/dad/grandpa - instead of journalist.
At a moment like this, I think about the most surreal scene of my life. An unusually kind, cheerful van driver taking me to the airport from Hazelden in a snowstorm in December of 2010 at the end of rehab, talking, encouraging me the whole way. He unloaded my bag.. backlit by the airport lights in the pre-sunrise darkness.. snow pelting his jacket.
“Have a great life,” he said, looking me right in the eyes, with a big warm smile on his face.
How could you say that, I thought to myself, while shaking his hand goodbye.
Hard to believe at the time. But it turns out.. I actually did.”
“John is one of the best I’ve ever worked with, said WAVE News Director Matt Kummer. He’s an incredible storyteller, fearless investigative reporter, the definition of an “anchor”, the rock you want on the desk or in the field in your community’s biggest moments. His lived experience, the highs and coming back from the depths are an inspiration. Everyone deserves a second chance, few grab that opportunity like John has.”
We thank John for the decades of work he has put in, and the impact he has made in every newsroom.
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