May 17--Longtime ABC 7 news anchor Ron Magers is set to retire May 25 after more than three decades as a force in Chicago television.
His on-air send-off may seem nearly as long, with a week of special reports, appearances and honors celebrating the legendary anchorman before he signs off from his familiar 10 p.m. perch for the final time.
On Thursday at 10 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7 will air the first of five reports by Paul Meincke, showcasing the public and less well-known aspects of Magers' career.
Alan Krashesky, who will take the 10 p.m. anchor reins from Magers, will interview his soon-to-be predecessor for ABC 7's Sunday morning news at 9:30 a.m.
On Monday at 11 a.m., Magers will spend the entire hour on Ch. 7's "Windy City Live" discussing his career and impending retirement with co-hosts Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini.
Then on Wednesday, May 25, the Chicago White Sox will honor Magers before their 1:10 p.m. game against the Indians by letting him participate in the lineup card exchange.
The whirlwind week of goodbyes will end with the big one, as Magers anchors his final 10 p.m. newscast May 25.
Magers, who launched his TV career in 1965 as a reporter in Eugene, Ore., also worked at stations in San Francisco and Minneapolis before coming to Chicago in 1981 at WMAQ-Ch. 5, where he enjoyed a long and successful run, punctuated by a tumultuous exit. In 1997, the NBC-owned station added TV talk show host Jerry Springer as a commentator on the 10 p.m. news, a failed experiment that prompted the flight of Magers and co-anchor Carol Marin.
He landed at ABC-owned WLS-Ch. 7 in 1998, first as co-anchor of the 5 p.m. news, adding 10 p.m. duties in 2002.
Magers plans to focus on his other interests post-retirement, including breeding and racing thoroughbred horses. Getting to the finish line of his TV news career next week may take some work.
"There is a reason Ron Magers is a household name in this city," John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement. "We can't let him go without honoring his accomplishments; we want to pay tribute to that legacy."
rchannick@tribpub.com
