Trudy Haynes

Gertrude Haynes (née Daniels; November 23, 1926 – June 7, 2022 ) was an American news reporter. She became the nation's first African American TV weather reporter when she was hired by WXYZ-TV in Detroit in 1963. Haynes, who received an Emmy Award as well as two Lifetime Achievement Awards during her 33-year tenure at KYW-TV, was hosting an online show called the "Trudy Haynes Show" at the time of her death.

Early life and education

Haynes was born in New York City on November 23, 1926. DeVore was known for being one of the first to market products to ethnic consumers and use black models during the age of racial segregation and the civil rights movements. Haynes stated in a 2004 interview with Contemporary Black Biography (CBB), "Modeling was just fun, I wouldn't say it was my career....It was just something to do on the side and because I was in New York at the time." While associated with DeVore, Haynes appeared in several advertisements, most notably as the first African American to appear on poster advertisement for Lucky Strike cigarettes. Later she became an instructor for other trainees including Diahann Carroll and Beah Richards.

Broadcasting career

In 1956, Haynes took her first steps towards her true calling in broadcasting when she was hired by WCHB, a black-owned radio station in Inkster, Michigan. WCHB was the first black-owned radio station north of the Mason–Dixon line. The station was created and operated by the father of one of her college classmates. Haynes was initially hired as a receptionist; however, the director of the station took notice and asked if she wanted to be on a show. Accepting the position, Haynes was named WCHB "Women's Editor" and polished her interviewing skills while hosting a daily 90-minute program targeted to women.

Later projects Haynes stayed active in the media world following her retirement from KYW-TV. Based in Philadelphia, Haynes continued to freelance, and make guest star appearances on several local television shows, including WPHL-TV's Philly Connection, PAX-TV's The Good News, and Comcast Cable's Let's Talk About It and Trudy Haynes Discovers Delaware.

Haynes established a production company, First Run Film/Video, where she generated her own show segments. She also became an active member of the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition, now known as Philly Cam, a lobbying group whose mission is to create public-access cable channels in the Philadelphia area.

In 2012 Haynes produced and developed a local television show whose audience included the Philadelphia Tri-State area briefly on Comcast's Bounce, the first national African-owned television network, based in Atlanta, Georgia. moved her popular show from television to an on-line On-Demand format, where "The Trudy Haynes Show" continues to inform its audience on current issues affecting the African American community, like health, education, and political issues. The show also features the local community and community events.

Awards, associations and charities

Haynes had affiliation with many professional associations, which includes the Philadelphia Branch of the National Association of Black Journalists, lifetime member of the NAACP, National Alliance of Businesspersons, National Negro Business League, National Urban League Guild, and United Negro College Fund, where she established fund raising efforts for five years during her tenure at KYW-TV.

In 1990, she went on to create a scholarship fund to be presented to distinguished Philadelphia-area students, where she established fundraising efforts for five years during her tenure at KYW-TV. In 1995, Haynes was awarded an Emmy in her field. Four years later, she was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. But her most significant accomplishment, she explained, is that she "managed to cross a line in this field." Haynes states, "I've been very well accepted, I think generally, by all races....Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods, and in any of these neighborhoods I go into, I'm welcomed. I can't remember but two incidents where I was rejected to my face because of color." Throughout the years Haynes was presented with many awards, appointments, and participated in many organizations and upheld leadership positions:

1975: Honorary Citizen Bethlehem, PA Citizen Award 1977: City Of Philadelphia Citation Presented By Mayor Frank Rizzo 1985: Club Bella Donnas Award For Outstanding Community Service 1986: Strength Through Service Appreciation Award For Participation In Navy International Logistics Control Office Black History Month Program 1987: Outstanding Alumnus, Howard University Alumni Club Of Greater Philadelphia, Inc. 1990: Twenty-fifth Anniversary In Broadcasting Recognition, Presented At The White House By President George Herbert Bush 1990: The Trudy Haynes Scholarship Foundation For Broadcasting For The UNCF; Created In Honor Of Trudy's 25 Years, By KYW-3 1990: The Patriots Bowl Award, Presented By Mayor W. Wilson Goode 1992: Unity Day "Claim Your Culture Award" From Wdas 1993: Outstanding Service Award From The Emergency Fund Community Of Older Philadelphians 1995: UNCF Lifetime Achievement Award 1995: KYW 30th Year Award 1995: "Emmy” National Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences 1997: Allstate "From Whence We Came" Award 1998: AKA Wilma Holmes Tootle 67th NARC Award For Outstanding Contributions To Broadcasting 1999: National Coalition Of 100 Black Women For Life Time Achievement As A Broadcast Journalist 1999: Howard E. Mitchell Forum Award 2000: Celebrate Age Award From The Philadelphia For Aging 2008: NAACP 100 Influential Black Women In Philadelphia Award 2008: Circle Of Achievement Award, Wesley Proctor Ministries 2010: Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, Alpha Eta Sigma chapter Service And Leadership In Broadcasting Award 2012: The Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund Legacy Award, For Being A Trailblazer In Broadcast Communications

Other awards

Edgar A. Howard Community Spirit Award Voter Education Liberty Bell Awards From Former Mayors, Frank Rizzo, W. Wilson Goode, John F. Street, Ed Rendell Outstanding Service To Delaware Valley Region Award The Philadelphia Bowl Award, From Mayor Frank Rizzo President Of The United States Of America Appeal Board Member Certificate Of Appreciation, President G. Ford The Sherri Award For Outstanding Service And Enduring Contributions United Way Award For Outstanding Service Variety Club Distinguished Service Award