Spencer Allen – 2006
Allen had a casual and relaxed style in delivering the news. His easy manner won the confidence and trust of many viewers. After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism he started his career in radio, working at stations in Missouri and Texas. In 1941 He moved to Chicago to work at WGN radio. During World War II, he served in the Army as public relations officer at Fort Monmouth Signal Corps Training Center in New Jersey. After the war, he rejoined WGN in Chicago and established one of the first local television news operations before coming to St. Louis in 1958 and joining KMOX-TV, where he became news director and chief news anchor. In 1964, Mr. Allen went to rival KTVI, but only spent three years there before returning to KMOX-TV as editorial director. In 1972, he left television to teach in the graduate program of UM’s journalism school.