Diane Larson began her broadcasting career at Channel 24 (then WDHO-TV) in 1981, working as an intern prior to her senior year at Bowling Green State University.
Two years later, at age 23, she started anchoring the evening news at the station.
She left in December,1984, to become the noon news anchor and a general assignment reporter at WTVG-TV, Channel 13.
In 1990, Larson was named co-anchor of the evening news at Channel 13, a position she still occupies.
On June 10, Larson will be one of five inducted into the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Columbus. But she will be just the second woman, joining Cleveland icon Dorothy Fuldheim, who was enshrined in 2002.
"Dorothy was on the air in Cleveland into her 90s," said Larson, who is 47. "I should be so lucky."
Membership in the Hall of Fame is open to five people, living or dead, each year who have served with exceptional distinction. Honorees must have been in TV or radio news for at least 20 years at an AP member station.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Larson was nominated by WTVG sports director Rob Powers, who cited "her excellence on the air, her longevity in the market, the way she mentors reporters in the newsroom, and her involvement in the community."
Larson was hired at WTVG 23 years ago. The station then was owned by Storer Broadcasting, and was an NBC affiliate. During her tenure, Channel 13 has changed ownership five times - it is currently owned by the Walt Disney Company - and affiliations once, going from NBC to ABC.
Larson, who does not have an agent, has worked with eight news directors and five male co-anchors. She has been paired with Lee Conklin on the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts since 1999.
"I've had such wonderful moments and wonderful opportunities over all those years, but make no mistake, I'm having the time of my life now," Larson said. "You know how much I cherish working with Lee. From top to bottom, this newsroom is filled with the most talented journalists I've ever worked with."
Larson, who has won several awards for her reporting, went to China in 1988 to cover the story of the panda bears' historic visit to the Toledo Zoo. She covered President Clinton's first inauguration in 1993, moderated Ohio's Gubernatorial Debate in 1998, and worked the Oscars in 1999.
Larson, married to Andy, with one daughter, Drew, also has helped raise money to fight neuromuscular diseases through the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, and served as honorary chair for several other fund-raisers.
"I'm thankful every single day that I've been able to make a living doing what I love, and in this business filled with nomads, I've been able to nurture deep roots in the community," Larson said. "My daughter has been allowed to grow up in the same school district - she's finishing seventh grade - and I've been allowed to "mature" on TV, which has been known to worship youth."
Larson, an old pro, will soon have a new credential to add to her long list of broadcasting achievements - hall of famer.
First Published May 11, 2007, 10:17 a.m.
