Melvin J. Showers is an American journalist and news presenter. He is
best known for his work at WKRG-TV in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
In his early life, Showers worked in the military as an Intelligence
Analyst in the Far East, Middle East, and other territories. Upon his
return stateside, he started his broadcasting career at WKRG in 1969.
He served in several different roles, including announcer and
reporter, before becoming a lead news anchor in 1980.Showers was among
the first people of color to anchor a newscast on the Gulf Coast,
breaking racial barriers. He retired from full-time work at WKRG in
2019 after fifty years. For his career in broadcasting, he was
inducted into Alabama's Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and named a
"Journalist of Distinction" by the National Association of Black
Journalists.Showers was born on the north side of Mobile, Alabama.
After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force,
where he served as a Military Intelligence Analyst in the Far East,
Middle East, and other territories.He joined the team at local
television station WKRG-TV in 1969, working part-time. He began
employment full-time in March 1970, working as a booth announcer,
providing live station identification and reading live commercials. In
1974, he transitioned to become a reporter for the station's newscast,
Newscenter 5. As a reporter, he covered the police, the school board,
and local government. He was, according to the Lagniappe, often the
first individual on the scene of large news stories. Among the major
stories he covered in Mobile during that era were Hurricane Frederic
in 1979 and the lynching of Michael Donald in 1981.
best known for his work at WKRG-TV in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
In his early life, Showers worked in the military as an Intelligence
Analyst in the Far East, Middle East, and other territories. Upon his
return stateside, he started his broadcasting career at WKRG in 1969.
He served in several different roles, including announcer and
reporter, before becoming a lead news anchor in 1980.Showers was among
the first people of color to anchor a newscast on the Gulf Coast,
breaking racial barriers. He retired from full-time work at WKRG in
2019 after fifty years. For his career in broadcasting, he was
inducted into Alabama's Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and named a
"Journalist of Distinction" by the National Association of Black
Journalists.Showers was born on the north side of Mobile, Alabama.
After graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force,
where he served as a Military Intelligence Analyst in the Far East,
Middle East, and other territories.He joined the team at local
television station WKRG-TV in 1969, working part-time. He began
employment full-time in March 1970, working as a booth announcer,
providing live station identification and reading live commercials. In
1974, he transitioned to become a reporter for the station's newscast,
Newscenter 5. As a reporter, he covered the police, the school board,
and local government. He was, according to the Lagniappe, often the
first individual on the scene of large news stories. Among the major
stories he covered in Mobile during that era were Hurricane Frederic
in 1979 and the lynching of Michael Donald in 1981.
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