Longtime KTLA Anchor, Record-Setting Pilot Was 75
The aviation and journalism
communities have lost another storied member of their fraternities.
Hal Fishman -- a world record-holding pilot, an award-winning
newscaster and mainstay on television in the Los Angeles, CA area
for almost 50 years -- passed away Tuesday morning. He was 75.
Fishman was well-known in the southern California aviation
community, and throughout the world. He shared in 12 airspeed and
altitude world records, serving as crewmember onboard various jets
flown by Clay Lacy.
He also reported news stories from the cockpit of his personal
aircraft, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Interviewed by filmmaker Brian Terwilliger for the aviation
documentary "One Six Right," Fishman described how aviation called
to him at a young age.
"As a little kid, just stand with my hands up against that fence
[at Van Nuys Airport], looking out and watching the planes... and
nagging my mother to let me go up in an airplane," Fishman
recounted.
He was equally introspective when asked to reflect on his
broadcasting career.
"When I think of the hundreds of anchors who have come and gone
over the last 30 years -- many of them better-looking and
better-coifed than I ever was ... there was one area that they were
not better, and that is in being dedicated to being informed... I
am not a charismatic broadcaster or a dramatic guy," Fishman said
in a 1990 Times interview, "but I think I am a person that people
can trust to give them a straightforward and accurate account of
what's going on in the world. I think that's why I have lasted so
long."
Fishman started in television in 1960. He anchored KTLA-5's 10
pm newscast since 1975, also serving as managing editor and
commentator on the popular newscast.
Fishman anchored his last newscast on KTLA on July 30, reports
The Times. He was hospitalized August 1 with a serious infection,
after collapsing at his home. Last Friday, KTLA announced doctors
had found evidence of colon cancer, which had spread to his
lungs.
"I think Hal is one of the last newsmen in this country that is
extremely well-read and is so interested in informing the public
about the truth," Rich Goldner, interim KTLA news director, told
The Times on last week. "He has been an anchor in this market for
such a long time because he is so believable and has extreme
integrity. He had a bond with the viewers and means so much to
Southern California."
Fishman was born in Brooklyn on August 25, 1931, and began his
broadcasting career on college radio stations. While serving as an
assistant professor of Political Science at Cal State LA in 1960,
Fishman was asked to teach an on-air course in politics --
launching his decades-long career in television.
In addition to appearing in several movies, Fishman also
authored two novels -- "Flight 902 Is Down," and "The Vatican
Target." He cowrote the latter, with fellow aviator and safety
advocate Barry Schiff.
Fishman is survived by his wife Nolie, and son David.
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