Class of 2026: WLWT inducts six individuals into station’s Hall of Fame
CINCINNATI —
WLWT and Hearst Television inducted six individuals into the WLWT Hall of Fame Wednesday.
It’s the fourth class inducted into the WLWT Hall of Fame, which honors those who have helped shape the station’s legacy.
The Class of 2026 includes: Mark Hauss, Janet Henderson, Bonnie Lou, Sheree Paolello, Sandy Powers, and Ron Whitacre. 2026 is the 4th annual class to be inducted, with the private induction ceremony planned for later this summer.
“The contributions made by these six inductees have left, and continue to build, a lasting impact on our audiences and the communities we serve. We are proud to celebrate their extraordinary careers and enduring legacy,” said WLWT President & General Manager Branden Frantz.
On Wednesday, WLWT colleagues and friends gathered to celebrate this year’s class of individuals who have helped shape the station’s success.
For 41 years, Mark Hauss covered the biggest stories in Cincinnati as a WLWT news photographer, working side by side with many of WLWT’s legendary anchors and reporters.
Janet Henderson set the standard as a WLWT Account Executive during her 27-year career. Janet retired from WLWT as one of the most decorated Account Executives in Hearst Television history.
Recognized as one of the first female Rock N Roll singers and a ‘rockabilly’ pioneer, Bonnie Lou brought her many talents to the WLWT airwaves during the golden age of local entertainment programming, appearing for decades on shows like Midwestern Hayride and The Paul Dixon Show.
A Cincinnati area native, Sheree Paolello joined WLWT in 2002 as a reporter and quickly moved to the anchor desk, becoming one of Cincinnati’s most trusted and watched news anchors. Sheree is an Edward R. Murrow Award recipient, one of journalism’s highest honors, and a multiple Emmy Award recipient for her work at WLWT.
From planning and organizing, to handling critical operational details, for 40 years Sandy Powers played a key role across several departments at WLWT, working alongside station leadership to develop a successful foundation and culture during her distinguished career.
Ron Whitacre was a multi-talented engineer at WLWT for 41 years. Along with being the lead Technical Director for WLWT’s live programming and Cincinnati Reds baseball broadcasts, he helped innovate WLWT’s remote broadcast capabilities in the early years of live remote technology.