Stan Hay transformed from a life of crime on the streets of Oakland to become a leader for improving the neighborhoods of San Diego.
By Greg Dawson ••
As we approach our 50th anniversary at NBC 7, we’re thinking about the events and people that have shaped our TV station. Few people I’ve known have been as unique as Stan Hay.
He transformed from a life of crime on the streets of Oakland to become a leader for improving the neighborhoods of San Diego.
Our general manager in the early ‘90’s, Neil Derrough, saw something special in Stan and brought his powerful voice to the television audience.
Stan worked with producer and photojournalist John Detarsio to tell stories of empowerment in the inner city.
They created several powerful documentaries, including one that chronicled Stan’s fight with cancer that ultimately took his life in 1999.
This clip is from my favorite of their documentaries. “A Town of Hope” followed Stan and dozens of others at Camp Anytown, a unique educational experience conducted by the National Conference for Community and Justice focused on teaching teens to overcome prejudice. It was emotional, funny, and thought-provoking.
Stan was a good friend. He left a legacy to be remembered in San Diego. I’m proud that NBC 7 was a part of it.
Greg Dawson has been Vice President of News of NBC 7 San Diego since 2002. He began his career in San Diego television in 1989.
Luann Alexander
KAAR-TV broadcast in 1966.
NBC 7
The KCST building on Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa.
NBC 7
Mark Mullen, Catherine Garcia, Jim Laslavic and Dagmar Midcap in 2014.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives - Jim Laslavic, Marty Levin, Denise Yamada, Bob Dale.
NBC 7
Anchor Laura Buxton appears in a promo for KCST-TV.
NBC 7
Anchor Paul Bloom on the KCST Update Desk in 1980.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Gene Cubbison in 1988.
Whitney Southwick
A photo of Whitney Southwick from his personal collection, circa 1986.
NBC 7
Anchor/Reporter Rory Devine in 1986.
NBC 7
Undated photo of Bob Dale.
Dave Smith
(L-R) Sports photojournalist Dave Smith with Sports Director Jim Laslavic in an undated photo.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Anchor Artie Ojeda in 2009.
NBC 7
Anchor Catherine Garcia in 2009.
NBC 7
Reporter Susan Farrell appears in this KCST promo.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives - Margaret Radford
NBC 7 Archives
Jill Willis
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Anchors Dennis Morgigno and Cathy Clark in this undated photo.
NBC 7
The KCST building on Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa.
NBC 7
Doug Curlee in 1988.
NBC 7
NBC 7
One of the news vehicles used by KCST TV crews.
NBC 7
The KCST building on Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa.
NBC 7
Dennis Morgigno and crew in one of the promos created for KCST in the 1980s.
NBC 7
Entertainment reporter Lawrence Gross appears in this KCST promo.
NBC 7
Anchor Marty Levin in 2008.
NBC 7
Anchor Marty Levin interviews former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Anchor/Reporter Adam Freed reports from the U.S.-Mexico border as San Diego rings in the year 2000.
NBC 7
Anchor/Reporter Bill Menish rings in the New Year at the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000.
NBC 7
Brian Hackney explains to the KNSD viewers how the newscast is now being translated into Spanish in 1988.
NBC 7
Undated photo of Bob Dale in Weather Center 39.
Whitney Southwick
(L-R) Former NBC 7 Traffic Anchor Kimberly King, Actor/Singer David Cassidy, NBC 7's Whitney Southwick on the plaza outside the downtown studio.
NBC 7
Undated photo of Bob Dale.
NBC 7
Marty Levin in 1988
NBC 7
Denise Yamada in 1988.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives - Gene Cubbison
NBC 7
Reporter Bill Ritter in a KCST news promo.
NBC 7
Reporter Andrew Resnick reports from NBC 7 Newschopper as San Diego welcomes the year 2000.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Marianne Kushi and Whitney Southwick ring in the year 2000 at the Hyatt Aventine in La Jolla.
NBC 7
Brian Hackney in 1988.
NBC 7
The anchor team in News Center 39 (L-R) Bob Dale, Marty Levin, Denise Yamada, Brian Hackney.
NBC 7
Vic Salazar and Gloria Limas in 1996.
YouTube
NBC 7 Sports Director Jim Laslavic was interviewed by a former Coronado High School student in 2007.
NBC 7
Anchors Cathy Clark and Carlos Amezcua in this undated photo.
NBC 7
NBC 7 Investigates reporter Mari Payton in a 2011 promo.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Former KNSD anchor Christine Haas in a 2011 promo.
NBC 7
Former KNSD reporter Lea Sutton in a 2011 promo.
NBC 7
NBC 7
NBC 7's Catherine Garcia in a 2011 promo.
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Steven Luke and Monica Dean
NBC 7
Former anchor Greg Mills and Catherine Garcia
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7
Catherine Garcia and Tony Shin.
Susan Taylor retired from NBC 7/39 in 2011.
Susan Taylor reporting in the KNSD newsroom in Kearny Mesa.
Marty Levin and Susan Taylor in the Kearny Mesa studios.
NBCSanDiego
Marty Levin led the NBC 7/39 newsroom as they moved into their downtown studios in 2001.
Marty Levin and Jim Laslavic in this undated photo.
NBC 7
How NBC 7 gathered news from the air in 1988.
Dave Smith
Bob Hansen and Ken Kramer pose in the KNSD newsroom downtown.
Dave Smith
An image of the crew involved in NBC 7 SportsWrap at the studios on Engineer Road.
David Villasenor
NBC 7 News in the Morning producer David Villasenor provided this image of when he was a student in the 2002 Multi-Cultural Workshop. (L-R) Bill Menish, Marianne Kushi, Villasenor, Whitney Southwick and Kimberly King.
David Villasenor
Villasenor in 2015 with (L-R) Jason Austell, Marianne Kushi, Whitney Southwick and Jodi Kodesh.
Luann Alexander
NBC 7's Sports Director Jim Laslavic in an undated photo.
Luann Alexander
NBC 7's Marianne Kushi in an undated photo.
Luann Alexander
KNSD's Bob Dale in an undated photo.
Luann Alexander
Stan Hay in an undated photo
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives - Jim Laslavic
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives
NBC 7 Archives
An image from the NBC 7 Archives - Marty Levin
NBC San Diego
Susan Taylor supporting former NBC 7/39 reporter Peggy Pico in her fight against breast cancer.
Luann Alexander
Our production and news staffers in the downtown KNSD studio.
Luann Alexander
Jim Laslavic and Susan Taylor anchoring a Super Bowl special on the plaza outside the downtown studios in 2003.
Whitney Southwick
Whitney Southwick and his family pose for a picture with NBC Today Show Weatherman Al Roker in 2001.
NBC 7
Jim Laslavic, Marty Levin, Susan Taylor and Joe Lizura in an undated photo.
NBC 7
Pat Brown, Marty Levin, Jim Laslavic and Susan Taylor in 2008.
NBC 7
Whitney Southwick, Marianne Kushi, Jason Austell, Jodi Kodesh in 2008.
NBC 7
Bill Menish, Marianne Kushi, Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer
NBC 7
Bob Dale in an undated photo
NBC 7
Reporter Steven Luke
NBC 7
Whitney Southwick, Marianne Kushi, Bill Menish and Jason Austell in 2007.
