KCCI’s Kevin Cooney Honored in Iowa Hall of Pride and as Iowa Broadcasters Association’s Broadcaster of the Year

CATEGORIES: News

Kevin Cooney
Kevin Cooney
The following press release was prepared by KCCI Des Moines on Aug. 28, 2015. Contact Brad Riley (515) 247-8849.

DES MOINES, Iowa – KCCI anchor Kevin Cooney has been recognized as Broadcaster of the Year by the Iowa Broadcasters Association and inducted into the Iowa Hall of Pride for his iconic journalism career in Central Iowa.

Cooney is now featured in the video lineup of other Iowa stand-outs at the Iowa Hall of Pride. An interactive video kiosk at the hall plays his life story. Leaders at the hall said they wanted to honor his contributions to journalism over the past four decades. Cooney has announced he will retire in November but Hall of Pride organizers say Kevin will be will be featured in the exhibit forever.

“I thought he deserves to have an interview. He needs to be in our hall of heroes. He is an Iowa icon,” said Iowa Hall of Pride Director Jack Lashier.

Cooney was also honored as Broadcaster of the Year by the Iowa Broadcasters Association for exceptional leadership, service to his community and dedication to the broadcast industry.

Cooney started his television career as a studio floor director in 1969 at KRNT-TV (now KCCI) while he was in high school. During college in the early 1970s, Cooney worked for the sports and news departments at Channel 8, landing a full-time position in the newsroom in 1974 after his graduation from Iowa State University. In 1982, when Kevin began anchoring and producing the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Paul Rhoades and Russ Van Dyke. He’s been at the anchor desk ever since.

“We are extremely proud of Kevin’s accomplishments and contributions to journalism and the community over his entire career. From working here while in high school to the wall-to-wall coverage he anchored during the floods of ‘93, Kevin has shown his passion for the field and his hometown,” said KCCI President and General Manager Brian Sather.

Cooney is an Iowa native, born in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines, and raised by two journalists — Jim and Pat Cooney — who spent their careers with the Des Moines Register & Tribune.

Information on the Iowa Hall of Pride exhibit can be found here: http://www.iowahallofpride.com/