It seems like only months ago I was scribbling words onto a similar post. It was time for a new adventure, a chance to work in Tucson, Arizona. I can still remember sneaking one last look at 10th Avenue South in my rear view as Fallon and I drove toward the Old Pueblo. It was never about leaving Montana, a place we had each called home our entire lives. It was more about the chance of seeking a new adventure. Recently engaged, it provided the opportunity for us to grow closer together as a couple while gaining experience in our respective careers. For me it was simple. Moving to Tucson would give me a courtside seat to the (at the time) top-ranked Arizona Wildcats NCAA basketball program. It would allow me to stand on the sidelines as Rich Rodriguez guided the UofA football team to new heights. I would stand on the softball diamond where Jennie Finch led Arizona to national championships. There was the pool where Olympic medalists trained, the fields where JJ Hardy and Ian Kinsler once held batting practice, and the mats where “Magnificent Seven” gymnast Kerri Strug began her career. These thoughts became reality as I tagged along on back-to-back Elite Eight trips by Sean Miller, the Pac-12 South championship won by RichRod, and the titles in golf, soccer and volleyball. There were Monday Night Football games with the Cardinals, midweek league games with the Diamondbacks and of course, Super Bowl XLIX. Major college and professional athletics opened my eyes to a new world of sports reporting. However, I also still felt at home roaming the high school football sidelines on Friday night and watching overtime finishes during the state basketball tournament. Tucson High’s 10-inning playoff win over Salpointe Catholic will likely always fall on my “best games witnessed in person” list. Southern Arizona would introduce me to triathletes, divers, blind baseball players, Kenyan distance runners and track and field phenoms. Watching an emotional T.J. McConnell hold back tears after his final collegiate game pulled at my heartstrings like few moments have in my career. While I was gaining experience reporting at a level I had never seen before, Fallon was gathering knowledge at an even more incredible rate. An oncology RN, she spends her days (nights) around some of the most ailing patients in the hospital. An atmosphere with declining cases would be too emotional for the majority of the population, but she thrived in providing comfort, healing and assistance to her patients. Certified in chemotherapy, ACLS (advanced cardiovascular life support), bone marrow and many others, Fallon was acquiring information that would make her an even more incredible nurse. There were sad moments, of course, but the “thank yous” and praise from patients and their families showed how great of a nurse she had become. To put it simply, life was good. We had incredible careers, an amazing first year of marriage, two beautiful dogs and nearly everything a young couple could hope for. But you never know when life will bring another opportunity. I have worked for the same company, Cordillera Communications, my entire television career. What started at KTVQ in Billings has taken me to KRTV in Great Falls and now KVOA in Tucson. The company recently acquired another TV station, KTVH, in Helena, MT. I thought little of it when I first read the email sent from company headquarters. It was an acquisition that would change our lives.
It is at this time I am excited to officially announce we have been offered and since accepted the sports director position with KTVH in Helena, MT. We will soon return to the state in which we were raised, the viewing area we attended high school, and the friends and family we briefly left behind. Like many, when I began my career as a sports reporter I dreamt of landing on Monday Night Football or anchoring Sports Center in Bristol for ESPN. While I still believe my hard work and willingness to improve would eventually place me in such a position, I have noticed over time, my goals, and especially my priorities, have changed. In my opinion, this is not a bad thing. I have not given up on my dreams; rather, I have a new set of goals to accomplish that better suit my family and me. Family has always been an important staple in my life. Advancements in technology like FaceTime allowed us to see our parents, siblings, and friends but there is no alternative that can best living a simple drive away. This career has never been about “being on TV” for me. In fact, I have always been hesitant to include myself in a story if I felt it took away from the real focus. My joy in this business has been sharing the accomplishments of those in the community. There are so many little autobiographies waiting to be told and my job allows me to be the narrator. I am ecstatic to return home to bring you these very stories. I have been fortunate during my near 10-year career. General managers and news directors within the company have put their trust in me to deliver an unbiased and thorough report. Now, I put my trust back in them. This new stop in my journey makes me a direct competitor to my former station KRTV (and KXLH in Helena). Viewers have always depended on the Montana Television Network to deliver the news in a fashion they could enjoy. KTVH will be the latest to join that list. Over time, viewers will recognize changes the company makes to better serve you. I only ask that you be patient as we strive to become part of your daily routine. In the meantime, set your DVR for January 18, 2016 and make sure you “like” and “follow” my social media accounts (listed below) as I plan to bring even more interaction with you, our neighbors, than ever before. I also encourage you to bookmark this blog, which will provide other angles into your favorite teams and athletes. Your voice also deserves to be heard, so I ask that you provide ideas for how I could better serve you. Grab your remote Montana and prepare for a new and improved way to watch the news. Follow Richie on his social media accounts: Twitter - @richiemelby Facebook - Richie Melby TV Instagram - @richiemelby Periscope - @richiemelby
20 Comments
Karen Graham
11/13/2015 09:26:13 am
Yea!! Have missed seeing you on T.V.
Reply
Richie
11/13/2015 11:06:31 am
Karen, I made sure to text Jeff this morning to give him a heads-up (and warning) that we will be seeing him soon! Can't wait to get back to Big Sky Country!
Reply
Kim cripps
11/13/2015 09:30:25 am
So excited for both of you
Reply
11/13/2015 09:44:40 am
You're a class act, Richie. One of the best I've worked with. Our loss in the Old Pueblo is definitely Helena's gain. Glad you'll be under the same TV company umbrella!
Reply
Alice Bulman Hauge
11/13/2015 09:55:36 am
Welcome home young man.I'll being looking forward to seeing your face on our airwaves again.Congratulations.
Reply
Coach Gordon
11/13/2015 10:13:51 am
Melby, we are all excited by the news! Going to be great to see you again my friend!
Reply
Connie Walter
11/13/2015 10:18:11 am
Whoohoo. So happy for you, your family and Montana!!! See you soon young man.
Reply
Brett Hamilton
11/13/2015 11:02:36 am
Great to see you back! H.p
Reply
Shirley & Chuck Rorvik
11/15/2015 06:46:47 pm
We agree with Jeff Beamish, you're a class act. Hang onto who you are--you & Fall on are special. Our love...
Reply
8/1/2022 03:21:17 am
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://takipcisatinalz.com/takipci-2/
Reply
8/1/2022 11:41:48 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://www.ugurelektronik.com/
Reply
8/3/2022 12:36:39 am
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://www.takipcikenti.com/instagram/turk-takipci/
Reply
8/9/2022 03:21:57 am
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://www.smsbankasi.net/2022/01/okex-nedir-nasl-kayt-olunur-nasl.html
Reply
8/9/2022 06:13:48 am
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://www.smsbankasi.net/2022/08/amazon-shopify-aliexpress-walmart-ebay.html
Reply
8/11/2022 02:25:08 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://bit.ly/instagram-takipci-satin-al-takipci
Reply
8/19/2022 02:25:39 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://guvenbozum.com/
Reply
9/9/2022 08:35:06 pm
https://taraftarium24izle.net/category/futbol/
Reply
9/24/2022 09:06:14 am
sikayetgir.com En trend şikayetvar yorumlarını sizin için yayınlıyor.
Reply
10/1/2022 05:18:47 pm
https://devletbasvurusu.com/ibb-promosyonlari-27-bin-tl-olarak-aciklandi/
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorRichie is a small-town boy chasing big-city dreams. When he's not involved with sports, he's spending time with his wife, Fallon; their yorkie, Tinker; and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rosie. Archives
April 2016
Categories
All
|