Television HOF

Al Wiman – 2017

Al Wiman began his St. Louis TV career in 1974, joining KMOX-TV (later KMOV) as an investigative reporter. A few years later his professional focus turned to medical news where he was one of the first journalists in the nation to focus on the AIDS/HIV epidemic. Al’s medical reports yielded numerous local and national awards, including three local Emmys, the G. Duncan Bauman Award for Health Reporting, and honors from the National Cancer Society, Kidney Foundation and Missouri Public Health Association. He was honored twice by the Aviation and Space Writers’ Association for his work in the NASA Journalist in Space project.

Spencer Koch – 2018

His first position at KTVI in 1995 was Vice President and General Manager. He was later elevated to President and oversaw the merge of operations of the station with KPLR. From a viewing perspective, one of his greatest accomplishments was a major emphasis on local news on both stations, a move which yielded increases in viewership, community service and station revenues. His involvement in the Heat Up/Cool Down St. Louis effort helped the charity raise significant donations to fund its operations. He was named the Variety Club Man of the Year in 2019. Koch was also active in the local chapter of NATAS, the Missouri Broadcasters’ Association and Fox TV Affiliates’ Association.

Bruce Hayward – 2013

In June of 1953, local radio newsman Bruce Hayward was named director of news and special events at WTVI, the market’s first UHF TV operation and the second television station in St. Louis. Hayward was news anchor on all their newscasts. One of his additional duties was to go door-to-door to help viewers install and adjust their UHF antennas. When the station switched dial positions, Hayward remained with the newly named KTVI (Channel 2) as a news announcer and public affairs director.

In the 1960s, Bruce Hayward was the producer of KSD-TV’s noon show featuring Marty Bronson and Stan Kann, and in retirement he appeared as host of “Seniorville” on the local Higher Education Channel.

Ted Koplar – 2018

For decades Ted Koplar’s name was synonymous with KPLR-TV. In his early days with the station he helped develop their first local news broadcasts and produced other local programming. In 1979 he became the station’s president/CEO. He founded World Events Productions in 1980, helped form the sanctioning body and cleared Kickboxing nationally. World Events won many awards for its production of Voltron as well as Denver the Dinosaur. Both shows went global. In TV’s technical end, he is credited with development of a digital system “Veil” that aids advertisers in the verification of airing of commercials. In the community he served as a member and chairman of the Nine Network board of directors, a member of the foundation board at Barnes Jewish Hospital and an advisor for Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Jerome “Jerry” Kleiman – 2008

Jerry Kleiman was one of the first television news camera operators in St. Louis. He worked for what was KSD-TV (Channel 5) first as a freelance camera operator, then worked for several years as the news station’s only full-time camera operator, on call every day. While at KSD-TV, Kleiman filmed Joseph Costello, one of the area’s best-known mobsters, local reactions to the John F. Kennedy assassination, the building of the Gateway Arch and a daylong riot at Menard State Prison in Chester, Ill.

Harold Koplar – 2006

When businessman Harold Koplar put his own TV station on the air in 1958, KPLR-TV was the nation’s fourth independent TV station, having no affiliation with a network. Relying on movies and filmed shows with an occasional live program thrown in, KPLR soon became the source of cult hits with shows like Wrestling At the Chase and Captain 11’s Showboat. Cameras were even moved from the studios in the Chase Hotel out into the lobby for variety programming, and some early news broadcasts were done beside the outdoor pool, where the announcer would float in an inner tube and technicians would improvise with microphones suspended from bamboo poles. Seen as a visionary by many in the industry, Koplar was able to use the station to promote the hotel, which he also owned.