Tampa, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-It's hard to write an obit for a longtime co-worker and friend. It was even more difficult to read a news story that Martin Giles has passed away.
I worked here at Newsradio 970 WFLA with Martin for more years that I can count. I first met Martin back in the mid 80s when I signed on as afternoon anchor here at 970. Several years later, I was moved to mornings where I co-anchored the news with Martin for twenty years.
We won best newscast in Florida from the Society of Professional Journalists, A.P, and U.P.I. numerous times.
My first memory of Martin was when he was anchoring ABC news in New York. I anchored the local radio news at a station in Ohio with Martin following up with the latest from ABC.
Martin was a great writer. He liked to push the envelope with his stories. Sometimes they bordered on the obscene, but they were always entertaining. I learned a lot from Martin.
Martin decided to walk away from news a few years back. He wanted to spend more time with his family, but I know he really missed the news biz.
What a lot of people may not know about Martin is that he was a local guy. He grew up in the Tampa Bay area and was a graduate of Plant City High School.
We will miss you Marty. I'll never forget your voice.
Photo by Steve Hall