Wanda Ramey

Wanda Ramey (February 18, 1924 in Terre Haute, Indiana – August 15, 2009 in Greenbrae, California) was a pioneering American television news reporter. She was married to Richard Queirolo and assumed his name, but continued to use her maiden name in her professional life.

Early life and education Ramey was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, to parents Hiram and May Ramey. She attended school (graduated high school in 1941) and college in Terre Haute, receiving a BA degree in radio journalism from Indiana State Teachers College in 1945.

After college graduation, she moved with her family to Oakland, California, due to a transfer in her father's company (American Express). She lived there for a while, then moved to Los Angeles, and began working, first at a recording studio and then in the movie theater division of Warner Brothers.

Broadcasting career Ramey's first post-college radio employment was at radio station KPIK After that, she returned to the Bay area and worked at several stations. In 1947, her job (for KSFO) was to interview celebrities at the Hearst Ranch near Pleasanton, California. she hosted The Woman Behind the Man (interviewing the wives of famous Bay-area men).

The KGO job did not last long. Vince Francis, KGO general manager, fired her by telling her that women did not do a good job as newscasters. and they made further history by casting one of the first female newscasters (Ramey) on the program. She was variously referred to as "Channel 5's Gal on the Go", "Girl on the Beat", and "Woman on the Beat".

Ramey estimated that she had interviewed some 1,200 personalities in the course of her career, including several US Presidents and an astronaut. Her most memorable interview was with Eleanor Roosevelt, who was Ramey's own inspiration as a girl.

In 1965, Ramey was named "Honorary Inmate" by the residents of San Quentin State Prison.

In 1982, Ramey received a commendation from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for her outstanding contributions to broadcasting. That same year SF Mayor Dianne Feinstein issued a proclamation commending Ramey for "her dedication and invaluable contributions to the broadcasting industry and . . . on her truly impressive and distinguished achievements." She also received the Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting Award from the American Women In Radio and Television, Golden Gate Chapter, and several other awards from professional societies.

In 1958, Ramey married Richard "Dick" Queirolo (Q-Rolo), a sheet-metal contractor and artist. She assumed her husband's last name after marriage, but remained Wanda Ramey in her professional life, and that is how she was known nationally. They had a daughter, Kristi Queirolo Steadman (born 1962) of Novato, California married to Dan Steadman and son Richard Jr. (from a previous marriage of Richard Queirolo) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Queirolo developed an interest in the mechanics of his wife's career, and after their marriage developed a vocation as TV cameraman, often working with and for his wife.

In 1963, Ramey was featured in a newspaper article titled "From Fashion Shows to Fires, Wanda Ramey Is KPIX's Woman-on-the-Beat". The article described Ramey as calm and reserved, petite and mild-mannered.... one of the few women in broadcasting who successfully manages to polish the rough corners off the hard news". It stated Ramey was chosen because of her flexibility and her ability to interview celebrities and political figures.

Ramey died of cancer at her home in Greenbrae on August 15, 2009. Upon her death her family established a scholarship fund in her name (Wanda Ramey Scholarship in Communication) at Indiana State University.

Longtime friend (and godmother of Ramey's daughter) Phyllis Diller said of Ramey: "Having Wanda for a friend is like having a million dollars in your checking account."