John Boel retires after 40 years of journalism

Louisville, Ky. (Wave) -In their last week before retirement, we have heard that others share how much John Boel means for them and the impact he has had on their lives. Now, we listen to John about what he is destined for him.

He has spent 40 years in the business trying to help people and share their stories. So where did everything start?

John says that the base of his career was based on his passion and talent to write.

“I tried all newspapers, radio, television and I loved television because it was a combination of words, images and sound,” he said.

As a research reporter, John often found in dangerous situations. He says that the most terrifying situation he has been was after one of his undercover stories of the drug house. He says that one morning at home, his wife and daughter were upset after discovering that his house had been painted with graffiti and death threats.

“I was never very scared until that moment,” he said. “We had to have 72 -hour police protection.”

A question is often why he does these covert drugs of drugs and why it is placed in dangerous situations.

“I’m getting in dangerous places because people who come to me are in dangerous places,” he says. “Your children cannot play in the patio, they can’t enjoy their lives. They live in danger, and I am in a position to help them. And so, I have always tried to feel that our duty as public servants is to be the voice for people, so I feel that I am their voice. “

He says he knows that his investigations are shocking when he listens to positive comments from the people who tell him the difference he has made in his neighborhood.

As for the most influential person he has met in his career, that prize goes to Walt Queen. Queen’s two daughters were killed in a car accident in the center of Louisville. During the court hearing for the truck driver, the queen openly forgave the man and asked the judge to retain prison time. Despite being faced with the tragedy, Queen dedicated her life to bringing joy to families like Santa Walt and spreading the message of forgiveness.

“When I have the opportunity to go somewhere, start taking some notes and share what I am learning with people like me when I went to rehabilitation, and my trip through addiction and recovery, I thought that a deep way of sharing this as a journalist with other people, and thus I wrote a book about it,” Boel said. “I discovered that I exponentially paid dividends and helped other people. I have tried to do the same in my life every day, either in the air as an anchor that shares things that happened to me. “

He says he believes that transparency is the fastest way to help people.

“When he finally learned what is important in life, he drastically changed everything.”

Over the years, John says that people would always tell him how intimidated they were from him. He says they would call him intense or inaccessible. Through the power of social networks and radio, John says that he believes that people have learned what kind of person is it really.

“I had a news director in this market. One day, ‘social networks have completely changed their brand. People have finally seen the true you. The grandfather, the fisherman, the guy who has family values and values the little things in life. Who is accessible. “

He says that the happiest thing has been in his entire career was when he was working on the shift of dawn.

“This sounds so crazy,” he said. “When I was at dawn, I enter at 3 in the morning, we go to the air at 4:30 am and that period of 3 am to 4:15 am reading scripts with people I adore and love, seeing crazy things in the world and speaking and laughing, thinking and discussing about all the things that happen surrounded by people you love. That was my favorite period, my favorite part of any change of any work I have had. “

He recalled a ridiculous moment of dawn when the crew came out in the Wave meteorological garden. A hot summer day, the meteorologist Brian Goode had the idea of getting a pool for children. Everyone sat, rolled their pants and immersed themselves for a photo. The photo that John began to receive messages on social networks, said he seemed to be wearing pantimedia because his legs were very tan were shared.

“I thought you should be joking,” he said. “And then I looked at the photos and thought, Woah, that’s what I have pantimedias.”

Sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest difference. John said he realized that every time he received sincere letters from co -workers, specifically those that did not work closely or frequently. They would describe these little moments of passing from the interactions with Boel or observations of it. What initially would seem an insignificant moment or gesture for him, the world meant for them.

John says it is a good reminder that people are always looking and taking notes.

Of all the hats and titles that he says, there is a role that John says he still needs to learn. Be a caregiver.

After retirement, John and his wife Brenda move to Wisconsin to be and take care of the family. While there is much to learn, John says that one thing that does know is how to bring joy to someone’s life. He is sure he can do it for his father and sister.

As retirement approaches, John has spent some time reflecting and looking back in his life and career. When Brenda asked him if he would change something in life given the option of an invoice, John realized. I wouldn’t. He would do everything the same.

“How many people can say that if they could make their lives again, they would do exactly the same. So, I’m really blessed, ”he said.

For your Wave family, Boel says: “Thanks to you for literally helping me to live the life of my dreams that I would live again.”

We will miss you, John. Congratulations on retirement, you deserve it.

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