Harold Johnson retires

see ya Big Guy

 

Surprise sign-off for WSOC's Johnson
Thursday's segment was his last
MARK WASHBURN
TV/Radio Writer
Harold Johnson, whose high-octane delivery free-wheeled through Charlotte's sports broadcasting scene more than 30 years, hit the brakes Thursday.

Johnson, 65, finished his segment on Channel 9's evening newscast with a farewell: he's retiring, effective immediately, he told viewers.

"This is my last broadcast on the Big Nine ... You folks have been absolutely wonderful to me. You opened your arms to me."

He praised his co-workers and bosses and then tossed to the anchor team for their impressions.

"It has been interesting working with Harold, to say the least," replied Debi Faubion, who worked with Johnson for 16 years.

No successor has been named, said Lee Armstrong, vice president and general manager of WSOC. She called Johnson a charming and dogged colleague.

"He's like a pixie. He has all sorts of personality, ranging from the very serious to the heartfelt, and the most elfin sense of fun about him. He's the sweetest guy in so many ways. It's hard to let him go."

In an interview with the Observer, Johnson joked that he was looking forward to retirement.

"I got a rockin' chair reserved at Cracker Barrel and Bill Walker and I are going to play checkers," said Johnson, referring to his longtime anchor-desk partner who retired in 2005.

"It's been a great run."

Through the years, Johnson became known for his outgoing personality, unpredictable wisecracks and ad-lib delivery.

He was a unusual in a business where on-air talent rarely stays moored to one city. A New Jersey native, Johnson moved to Statesville at age 10 when his father took a job there. He graduated from Statesville High School and Lenoir-Rhyne College and did a stint in the Marines.

To the end, he delivered his sportscasts with zeal. Viewers loved him or hated him but few were unaffected by his reach-through-the-screen style.

Even in childhood, Johnson's aggressive manner paid off. He recalled going to a golf course at age 9 to see about a caddying job. Come back in two years when you're bigger, he was told.

Instead, he was back the next day. They were short of caddies and Johnson earned his first paycheck -- for 18 holes "carrying two bags bigger than me" he made a whole dollar. Not bad for a kid in 1950.

He was working at WSIC radio in Statesville in 1972 when he met WBTV's sports director Jim Thacker, who invited him to come down and talk about television work sometime.

Johnson was there the next day. Soon he was doing weekend sports on Channel 3 and later hosted WBT-AM's morning show with Bob Lacey.

In late 1979, he got a chance to jump ship to WSOC-TV, a move many considered a bad opportunity at the time. But he made the move, and was part of the team that displaced WBTV from its long stranglehold on No. 1 in the news ratings.

Among his scoops over the years: He was first to announce Charlotte would get a National Basketball Association franchise. "Just a real good source," Johnson said.

 

paging Chuck Howard......

 

Sportscaster Harold Johnson Retires from WSOC-TV, WSOC-TV
Video: Harold Johnson announces retirement, camera 1

Video: Harold Johnson announces retirement, camera 2 (includes off air walk off set)

 

Fuck that!

Paging the big guy Solarteeeee!

 

they know how to contact me if they are interested, but I suspect they are not.

 

oops sorry mike. just that I heard Howard on the radio last week and when asked about future plans he hinted at something about staying in the area. thats all

 

no need for sorry....HJ knew he was gonna go for a while (I suspect), and if that is true, then 9 has been searching quietly since he let them know he was gonna bolt.

I wouldn't mind going there, but my contract prevents that....unless 9 decided they wanted to hire me and wanted to try and buy me out, but again, I suspect they don't want to go through all of that.

 

good

 

which part?