BIOGRAPHY OF LINDA LORELLE

Linda Lorelle is an Emmy Award winning anchor whose reports have not only touched lives, but saved them, as well.  Just ask the Houston area women who credit her series “Buddy Check 2:  Beating the Breast Cancer Odds” for helping them detect early breast cancer.  From her most recent Emmy for “Beyond Brown vs. Board:  The Journey Continues”, a documentary on how Houston desegregated its schools, to her Emmy Award-winning, first person account of another local news anchor's battle with cancer, Linda's stories continually garner critical acclaim while making a significant impact on the lives of Houston viewers. 

 Linda takes pride in the variety of stories and events she has covered through the years as a reporter and anchor, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; President Bill Clinton's first inauguration; President George W. Bush's first inauguration; the shuttle flight of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color in space; John Glenn's return to space; the shuttle Columbia tragedy; Super Bowl XXXVIII; numerous NBA and WNBA Finals; the World Series; the Houston Rockets in China, and President George H.W. Bush's 80^th birthday, complete with a first person account of what it's like to sky dive with the Golden Knights of the U.S. Army.  For the record, it was a blast!  Linda is honored that her documentary on the former President now has two permanent homes:  at the Bush Presidential Library in College Station and in the Peabody Collection of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, Illinois.  The Brown vs. Board documentary also rests in the Museum.

 Linda Lorelle made her move to broadcast journalism in 1987 after a successful career as a professional dancer and actress.  At that point, Linda had already attained a B.A. in Developmental Psychology and a B.A. in Italian Language from Stanford University when she set her sights on a new career in journalism. She went back to school to attain an M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  While in graduate school, she became weekend anchor at KOMU-TV, the top-rated NBC affiliate in Columbia, Missouri.  From there it was on to reporting at KMOV-TV, the CBS affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri.  In 1989, Linda signed on with KPRC-TV in Houston as a weekend anchor, but was quickly promoted to anchoring the weekday 6 and 10 pm newscasts, a position she held for 14 years.  In the last two and a half years of her employment at KPRC, Linda moved to a more family-friendly schedule, anchoring the 5 and 6 pm newscasts as well as the mid-day and 4pm newscasts.  Throughout her years at KPRC, she anchored Dateline Houston, spearheaded the station's documentary projects and hosted several special programs, including the Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon and the College Fund (UNCF) Telethon.  Linda is currently developing media projects through her company, Lorelle Media, LLC. 

 Linda's special interest in education and children led her to found the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity that provides major college scholarships and support to Houston area students.  The LLSF (www.lindalorelle.org) targets students with average grades from challenging backgrounds.  To date, the LLSF has awarded nearly $2.6 million in scholarships to 283 students, has 100 college graduates and three sitting Board members who are former LLSF scholarship recipients.  Each year the organization also hosts thousands of Houston area students and parents for a free, citywide College Preparatory Conference.

 In addition to her two Emmys, Linda is also a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television, as well as numerous honors on the local, regional and national level:

·        2010 Woman of Distinction

·        2009 Inducted into the Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame

·        2007 Houston Treasure Award, for her tireless commitment and contributions to the Houston community

·        2006 Loving Hearts Caring Hands Award from M.D. Anderson

     Cancer Center, for her commitment and contributions to M.D. Anderson

·        2006 Honoree at the Rose Gala, benefiting the Women’s Home, for being an outstanding community leader

·        2005 AWRT Gracie Award, for 41@80: An Incredible Journey, a portrait of former President George H.W. Bush on his 80^th birthday

·        2005 Houston Press Club Award, 1^st Place, for “Houston’s Chinese Connection”, a documentary on Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets in China

·        2005 Houston Press Club Award, 2^nd Place, 41@80: An Incredible Journey

·        2004 Emmy Award, for “Beyond Brown vs. Board: The Journey Continues”

·        2004 AWRT Gracie Award, Individual Achievement – Best Reporter/Correspondent for a 3-part series, “Goodbye Felicia Moon”

·        2004 AWRT Star Award, Best Houston Television Personality

·        2004 Whitney M. Young Humanitarian Award, Houston Area Urban League

·        2003 Macy’s Heart and Soul Award, honoring excellence in the fight against breast cancer

·        2002 Chron’s & Colitis Gold Key Award, recognizing Linda as an Exceptional Woman in the Houston community

·        2000 Anson Jones, M.D. Award for “Sydney’s Story”, a first person account of Linda’s experience covering the breast cancer battle of Houston anchor Sydney Seaward.  The article appeared in Health and Fitness Magazine

·        2000 Texas Associated Press Award for “She Got Game”, a one-on-one interview with WNBA star Cynthia Cooper about the Houston Comets’ 3^rd championship and the death of teammate Kim Perot

·        1997 Houston Press Club Award: 1^st Place News Series, for “Sydney’s Story”

·        Several awards for “Buddy Check 2: Beating the Breast Cancer Odds” series on breast cancer, including the 1995 Commendation Award from the American Women in Radio and Television, the Cancer League's Media Community Service Award and the Cancer Counseling Media Award of Excellence

·        1996 Emmy Award for “Sydney’s Story”

·        1994 Makeda Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, for outstanding contributions to the community

·        1993 Matrix Award from Women in Communications, for the series “Mae's Dream”, documenting the shuttle launch of the first black woman astronaut

·        1992 Sampson Award from the Houston Tennis Association, for outstanding contributions to youth

·        1992 Media Award from the Texas Association for Year-Round Education in recognition of positive reports on “The New System”, aired during the 1991-92 school year

·        1991 and 1990 School Bell Award from the Texas State Teachers Association, for outstanding news or feature series “They Should Know That” and “They Should Know That, Too”

 Linda's community activities include current and past, board and advisory board memberships in: the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund; the Texas Woman’s University Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center; the Houston Police Foundation; the High School for Performing and Visual Arts; Susan G. Komen Foundation; Pink Ribbons Project; Sisters Network; San Jacinto Girl Scouts; the Women's Resource; Society of Professional Journalists; the Houston Zoo; the Junior League; the Children's Assessment Center Foundation; Casa de Esperanza and I Have A Dream.

 Linda is devoted to her husband, Lou, and their daughter, Lindsey.  She is passionate about ballroom dancing and often performs locally with her partner who is a 6-time national champion.  She loves to read, work out, play tennis, figure skate and listen to music.  Linda speaks Italian and French.  She's working on Spanish.

 CONTACT INFORMATION:

linda@lindalorelle.org