Pete Wilson

Peter James Wilson (April 5, 1945 – July 20, 2007) was an American broadcaster born in Wisconsin. For more than 20 years prior to his death, he worked in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was not related to the former California governor of the same name.

Personal life Wilson was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Vietnam era veteran.

Broadcasting career Wilson's first broadcasting stint was at WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, followed by stint as news anchor at KTXL in Sacramento, California in 1979 and later at his first stint at ABC-owned KGO-TV in 1983 before moving to then-NBC affiliate KRON-TV in 1990. In October 2001, he became one of the first high-profile employees to leave KRON after it was announced that the station would be losing its affiliation with the NBC television network. Subsequent to this, he returned to KGO-TV.

Wilson hosted a talk radio show on the number-one rated 50,000-watt KGO (AM) weekdays 2–4 p.m. up until his death in 2007. He was the winner of five Emmy Awards and a Peabody. Wilson also co-anchored the 6 p.m weekday editions of KGO-TV's ABC 7 News.

Death Pete Wilson died at age 62 after suffering a "massive heart attack during the operation, was put on life support, and last night (2007/07/20) was taken off" while having hip replacement surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.

During the last hour of his final radio broadcast, the day before his surgery, Wilson talked about his worries concerning the surgery with fellow KGO talk show host Gene Burns and invited callers to recount their own surgical experiences. It was reported later that Wilson had severe anxiety about the surgery and was hospitalized briefly at Stanford University Medical Center to recover from it. On September 17, 2007, longtime ABC reporter/anchor Gil Gross was named to replace Wilson in his radio post.

Legacy After his passing, Wilson's friends and colleagues at ABC7/KGO-TV-DT established a scholarship in his name. The annual scholarship is administered by the Radio Television Digital News Association. The scholarship is granted to either an undergraduate or graduate journalism student from the Bay area.

Personal Wilson lived in Mill Valley, California, with his wife Sandra and son Brendan.

Wilson publicly acknowledged his frequent use of Wikipedia.

Obituaries Gold & Silver Circle Profiles on WTMJ PETE WILSON | 1945-2007 / TV news anchor was a straight shooter TV anchor Pete Wilson’s death reveals limits of medicine Newsman Pete Wilson, a Marin resident, dies Pete Wilson, 62, news anchor ABC7 anchor Pete Wilson dies :: Bay Area Reporter KGO anchor Pete Wilson dead at 62 KGO-TV co-anchor Wilson dies KGO's Pete Wilson dies at 62 Pete Wilson Obituary (2007) - San Jose, CA - Mercury News