Silver Circle & Gold Circle

Each year, the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducts qualified candidates into the Gold Circle Society and the Silver Circle Society. The Gold Circle recognizes individuals who have dedicated 50 or more years in the industry and the Silver Circle Society recognizes individuals who have dedicated 25 or more years in the industry.

Inductees into these prestigious circles come from engineering, editing, production, photography, news, management, promotions and sales, as well as the education broadcast journalism arena. We are honored to have these individuals in our region and extend our congratulations to the current year's inductees.

Congratulations to the 2009 Gold and Silver Circle Inductees.

2009 Silver Circle Inductees

Guy Atchley
Guy graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Radio/Television Speech.  Since then he has received more than 20 first-place awards for excellence in reporting.  Guy’s reporting has taken him to several foreign countries and all over the United States. During his tenure with KGUN, the Associated Press honored the station with the award for Best Newscast in Southern Arizona. 

For the last 24 years, Guy has spent every Labor Day as Tucson host for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.  Guy counts the comedian as a good friend and mentor.  Lewis writes:  “Guy Atchley’s ‘good news’ stories reflect the devotion to his community, and to the human community.  That makes him a great newsman and a close ally of mine.”

Guy has interviewed many famous people, but it’s the not-so-famous—the unsung heroes of America—that Guy loves to focus on.  Comedian Dean Steeves says: “In a culture where 15 minutes of fames has become just that, Guy Atchley seeks out and retells the small, quiet stories behind the lives of real and honorable people.”

If you ask Guy, you’ll find out that he’s thankful to be a real-life reporter who seeks out stories of inspiration and humor.  In the end, Guy says, that’s good news—the innate ability to be greater than anything that can happen to you.

Sue Breding
Sue Breding is a versatile TV news reporter - adept at covering both hard-breaking news and fun features. As a reporter in Los Angeles for KCAL – Channel 9, she was assigned lead stories that occurred in the nation’s second largest city, including the natural disasters, major crimes and visits of world leaders. She interviewed celebrities on the red carpet for many different awards show events.

Sue also enjoyed 16 years at KTVK - Channel 3 in Phoenix where she did live weather and general assignment reporting, special project sweeps pieces and for the past six years was responsible for enterprising regular feature segments for Good Morning Arizona.

Sue has appeared live on TV nationwide as an on-call reporter for The Weather Channel, reporting during floods, mudslides and severe rainstorms around the Los Angeles Area.

She has interviewed numerous A-list movie stars and recording artists including Kate Winslet, Tom Cruise, Will Ferrell, Taylor Swift, Phil Collins and Celine Dion. She has specialized in reporter-involvement features giving viewers a peek behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil and Broadway shows, NASCAR races and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. She has interviewed elite sports figures ranging from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Diamondbacks baseball star Luis Gonzales.

Sue has won three Emmy awards and earned more than a dozen Emmy nominations. Last year she earned an Emmy nomination for an interview she did while walking around Manhattan with one of the original members of The Four Season’s and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Bob Gaudio. She served as a NATAS board member for two years in the early 1990’s.

Sue is married to NATAS silver circle honoree, Cary Pfeffer and they have three children, Robbie, Kelsey and Katie Rose. She enjoys endurance running and recently finished her first half-marathon event.

Bruce Dunbar
Bruce Dunbar has spent nearly half his life in television news. In addition to Phoenix, he’s anchored and reported in South Bend, Norfolk, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Louisville.

Bruce has covered a number of historic international events, including Operation Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf, the civil war and famine in Somalia, the 50th anniversary of D-Day in France and U.S. peace-keeping efforts in Bosnia and Kosovo. Significant national stories have included Hurricane Andrew, the great Mississippi River flood, the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton, the Kentucky Derby and college basketball’s Final Four. In 1991, at the invitation of the Administration, Bruce interviewed President George H.W. Bush one-on-on at the White House. Among his accomplishments here in Phoenix is a string of one-on-one interviews with what were high profile suspects including Scott Falater, Sean Botkin, David Anthony, James Saville and Brian Eftenoff.

Bruce has been fortunate to win many journalism awards during his long career. The Associated Press has named him Arizona’s Reporter of The Year four times. He’s won Emmys in multiple categories including investigative and public service reporting. He’s also received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for work ranging from feature reporting to documentary production.

Tony Escobar
Native Phoenician Anthony Escobar Jr. was raised in a small South Phoenix barrio and graduated from Alhambra High in 1981.  He was introduced to video and film production early on with Alhambra’s “Film Communication” Courses and also at his church, Phoenix First Assembly, where Tony worked on the annual Easter and Christmas Pageants.

Unable to afford college, Tony considered enlisting in the Military-but just before his appointment with an Air Force recruiter-Tony’s dad suggested he go up the street and apply at Channel 5.  Success!  Tony was hired at the age of 18 as station “runner.”  He always kept “an eye” on the studio, however, especially during the Wallace and Ladmo taping.  In 1984 a dream became reality when he became a full time studio camera operator.  In 1986 he became KPHO’s weekday Floor Manager-a position he held for many years-working with local news greats such as Roger Downey, Linda Turley, Stu Tracy, June Thompson, Cary Pfeffer, Kent Dana and Catherine Anaya.  He also directed the Wallace & Ladmo Show where he began his working partnership with Producer/Director Sharon Kelley-a partnership that continues today some 23 years later.

In 1994, Channel 5’s parent company Meredith Corporation-out of 2,000 employees-named Tony their “Broadcaster of the Year” for his work ethic and commitment to customer service.

In 1996, Tony worked his way into the commercial production department where he remains today shooting and editing commercials and segments for the morning show “Better Arizona.”

As CBS-5’s 6 time winner of “Employee of the Quarter,” Tony has weathered it all-from analog to digital and now to Hi Def-and he’s adapted to the changing face of broadcasting and has remained committed as ever to an industry he loves.

John Howe
John joined the staff of public television station KUED in 1984 as a staff producer, after serving in similar positions in California and Arizona.  He has been a talented contributor to KUED’s efforts ever since, routinely placing his documentary and special events projects on the national broadcast schedule of PBS.  A gifted television artist, John has received dozens of regional Emmy Awards from the Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of NATAS.  In 1990 he was promoted to Senior Producer with KUED.  In 2008 he was promoted to the station’s Executive Producer position, which allows him to pursue the productions he so dearly loves, while mentoring a new generation of public television producers in the process. 

John tirelessly works to perfect his craft, serve his public, and share with those seeking to establish careers in a professional field he so clearly loves.

Jan Jacobson
“Jan has been a driving force in the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for more than twenty three years,” says Dr. John Craft, RMSW board member and professor of communications at Arizona State University.  Jan and Dr. Craft joined the board of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS back in the mid-80’s and served as officers together.  She worked with Dr. Craft to incorporate the chapter and establish fiscal solvency.  “Jan was a tireless contributor to grow the chapter to the well recognized organization that it is today,” Craft said.

Jan has held just about every position in the chapter imaginable.  She has served two terms as president, has been both National Trustee and Alternate Trustee, worked as program chair and newsletter editor, just to name a few.  In June of 2000 Jan was honored by the RMSW Chapter with the Governor’s Award, one of the most prestigious awards given by the Academy.

Jacobson was the leader in establishing the Chapter’s Silver and Gold Circle Society.  Jan has served as the chair of the Gold and Silver Circle Awards Committee since its inception in 1993.  This year she was unable to carry out those duties due to a serious car accident that happened in September.  It is only fitting that Dr. Craft represent her as Chair until she can return. 

Jacobson is President of JB Communications, a full service advertising, public relations and marketing company based out of Phoenix.  At the time of her accident she was also hosting a weekly public affairs radio show, Valley Focus, that airs on several stations in Phoenix.

Jacobson brought many of her diverse talents to the Academy.  She is a published author, photographer, publicist and special events planner.  She is also frequently contributes to regional and local trade magazines and newspapers.

It is virtually impossible to explain Jan’s contributions to the Academy and specifically the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter over the past two decades.  All we know is our organization is what it is today because of her.

David Ross
David is the Director of Engineering for Arizona Public Media.  He has more than 30 years experience in broadcast engineering holding various positions within the industry, including stints in studio & remote supervision, maintenance, and serving as chief engineer for both radio and television stations.

Prior to joining Arizona Public Media in 1980, David was employed at Ohio State University, at station WOSU-TV.  He also served in the U.S. Navy where he received electronics training.  His education included two years in the College of Engineering at Ohio State.

David’s responsibilities encompassed planning and implementing the new digital technology and spearheading the digital conversion for both television and radio.  In August 2007, a bolt of lightning struck KUAT-DT transmission antenna on Mt. Bigelow.  The damage destroyed the quarter-million-dollar antenna and affected more than 11 television and radio stations that operate at or near this facility.  Under David’s leadership, the ASPM engineering staff immediately began organizing repairs to the transmission tower and antenna damaged by the strike.  While work on the transmitters was going on outside, there were HD cameras, a new HD switcher, Chryon, servers and automations to spec, purchase and roll-out.  Dave also initiated strategies to improve AZPM productions, with shared storage, a common software toolset and a unified workflow.  The result was a state-of-the-art 35T SAN, with nine editing workstations and twenty-four clients.  The successful migrations to this high-definition shared post-production environment has enabled a new workflow that is proving transformational for Arizona Public Media.  David’s accomplishments are about to be fully realized-as all the AZPM stations are now in a  position to provide the high quality digital programs that audiences deserve and supporters expect.

2009 Gold Circle Inductees

Maurie Helle

Maurie graduated from Northwest Broadcasting School in Chicago, IL in 1958.  He began his television career with WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, Ohio in January of 1959 as a member of the production crew. He was promoted to director and eventually production manager.

In February of 1962, he was hired as a cameraman at KOOL-TV in Phoenix, Arizona.  While still as a cameraman and member of the production crew, in 1963 he and Bill Miller created a television program titled, “Folk Sing.”  As a team, they produced other television programs and won every local Emmy in which they entered in 1963.

With the success of the two producers, the station created the Special Project Unit which produced numerous award-winning television documentaries.

In 1967 Helle was promoted to full-time director and eventually, production manager. He directed thousands of television commercials and hundreds of programs including newscasts, specials and sporting events.  He was the first person to direct the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

When the station changed ownership several times in the 1980’s Helle left after 25 years at KOOL-TV to create his own production company: Helle International, Inc.

In 1987 he was selected to be in charge of pool television coverage for the visit to Arizona of Pope John Paul II.  The coverage consisted of 7 remotes in a 24 hour period and culminated in the Mass of the Cross at Arizona State Stadium, directed by Helle.  Additionally, he wrote, produced and directed the 90 minute video that paid for all the remote expenses for the pool coverage.  The coverage won the Rocky Mountain Television Academy Board of Governors Award for the stations involved in the event.

Helle continued his activities in local television and brought numerous projects to the industry in Arizona.  As a writer-director, he has been on location in 30 states and 5 countries. In 1990 he traveled to Ethiopia and Kenya to produce the award-winning documentary, “Seeds of Survival” for Food For The Hungry.  He has been involved in numerous industry and charitable organizations. The only person to receive a lifetime membership in both AD 2 Phoenix and the Phoenix AD Club.  As charter vice president, and president-elect, he helped form the Arizona Production Association and is a lifetime honorary member.

Though semi-retired, Helle continues to create for selected clients and his free time allowed him to complete his first novel, published in 2008.

Pat McMahon
If anyone ever told Pat McMahon "You simply can't do it all", Pat was clearly not listening. Pat's day includes his hour live on AZTV7/Cable 13 each morning and his exciting new position as Director of Public Affairs for News 92.3 KTAR. But that's not all...there are the daily commentaries during "Arizona's Morning News", the weekly"McMahon Group" and "The God Show" (both Sundays).

His 30 years on the long-running, groundbreaking children's show Wallace and Ladmo are just part of Pat's remarkable resume', which includes acting, producing, writing and recording. Pat's professional and personal contributions have been richly rewarded with 7 Emmy awards, major national and international radio awards, numerous civic, educational and humanitarian awards.

The child who once traveled the world with his show-business family is now the holder of the Arizona Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award and his bronze likeness hangs alongside Hugh Downs and Leslie Nielsen in the rotunda of the Herberger Theater.

The local theater community has named the McMahons "The First Family of Arizona Entertainment" but Pat, no doubt, feels most comfortable simply being thought of as "Arizona's Own" on The Pat McMahon Show, weekdays from 9-10 AM exclusively on AZTV7/Cable 13.

Bill Thompson
Bill Thompson was the driving force behind The Wallace and Ladmo Show, which aired in various incarnations from 1954 to 1989. The show was an anomaly among children’s programs nationwide, both in its duration and content. While most children’s shows were content to air cartoons and push products, The Wallace and Ladmo Show frequently featured topical political satire that sailed over tykes’ heads. It also featured a cast of social misfits—a blowhard superhero, an out-of-work cowboy, a clown who hated kids, a spoiled brat who would taunt viewers (that was Gerald…our own Pat McMahon)—that weren’t the types of characters seen on Cap’n Kangaroo or Sesame Street.

It would be nearly impossible to overstate the popularity of the show. It consistently beat the national news programs Good Morning America and Today when it aired weekday mornings during the 1970’s and 1980’s. But beyond ratings, was the devotion it built in viewers across the central and northern protions of Arizona.

The television program had no parallel anywhere else in the United States, leaving those who grew up with the show with the curse of having to explain it to newcomers who arrived in Phoenix after it was off the air. The show went off the air in December 1989. We would like to credit Bill Thompson and his co-hosts for the countless hours of entertainment and dedication they provided to the state of Arizona – a job very well done Wallace!

2008 Gold and Silver Circle Inductees

Congratulations 2008 Gold and Silver Circle Honorees

Gold Circle Inductees

Larry Martel began his career in the mid-fifties doing “The News of the Day” from the University of Arizona.  Upon graduation he moved back to his hometown in New York and landed a job working for a small radio station.  From there he has worked for newspapers, magazines, wire services, a few networks and then returned to Arizona as part of the first All-News Station – KPHO in 1961.  He eventually moved across the hall to the TV side and remained with KPHO for 38 years as one of Channel 5’s journalists. 

In addition to his work at Channel 5, Larry taught a News Writing class at ASU for 22 years.  Larry has retired a few times only to find himself drawn back to what he loves to do and that is work in the industry.  Currently, he is writing, producing, directing, editing and narrating for Peoria 11.

Jack Miller has been creating Arizona’s soundtrack for more than 50 years.  Today, you will find him in his studio at Canyon Records, still growing strong at age 75.  In the mid-1950’s Jack went to work at Ramsey’s Recording Studio in Phoenix as chief engineer and audio mixer.  By playing with the audio equalization and running the sound through a 10,000-gallon water tank behind the studio, he was able to “shape” and “color” the music.  It became the “Phoenix Sound” and a string of hits put the city, the studio and Jack on the industry’s map.

The success was Jack’s ticket to Hollywood and RCA’s Studio Center of the World.  He mixed and produced records, commercials, movies and television shows for dozens of the biggest stars in the world:  Henry Mancini, Dean Martin, Jefferson Airplane and The Rolling Stones. 

After his stint and rising career Jack wanted to return home to Phoenix.  As Chief engineer and audio producer for Audio Recorders of Arizona, he was the first choice of every ad agency in town and made radio and TV commercials for Lou Grubb Chevrolet, Hallmark Homes, Bashas’ Markets and a hundred other advertisers.

In 1975, working with the engineering departments of KOOL-TV and Motorola, Jack produced the first quadraphonic audio broadcast in history.  In 1977, he started his own Jack Miller Productions.

Jack is and has always been a leader in audio technology.  He was one of the first recording engineers in Arizona to adopt digital recording.  Long before the major studios in Los Angeles and new York, Jack replaced tape recorders with computers.

In 2000, Jack Miller Productions merged with Canyon Records, one of the world’s premier producers of Native American Music.  In just the past five years his work has been honored with a Grammy Award and five Grammy Nominations.

Resources

• Past Gold and Silver Circle Inductees

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