In addition to Ward, KWGN Anchor Ernie Bjorkman, KCNC Reporter Suzanne McCarroll, and KRMA President and General Manager James Morgese will be honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the contributions they've made to the broadcasting industry and community.

Ward Lucas began working at Channel 9, then KBTV, back in 1976. He has served as an anchor and reporter at 9News ever since, where he's done stories about everything from investigations into gang violence and racial discrimination to stirring essays about the human condition. Many of these stories were recognized by the Heartland Chapter of NATAS, which has nominated Ward for Emmy Awards 29 times since the chapter was established in 1987. Ward is the recipient of 11 Heartland Emmy Awards.

Ward started his journalism career at age 7. His first official job was delivering the Washington Star to subscribers in Arlington, Virginia. In 1967, Ward got his first broadcasting job. He earned $5 for cutting a series of promotional spots to inform radio listeners about the coming new FM radio and how someday people would be able to hear FM in their cars.

In December 1973, KIRO-TV in Seattle took a huge chance and put Ward on the air as an investigative reporter and weekend anchor. He held that job for two and a half years, eventually winning several reporting awards including an Emmy for an investigative story on industrial arson called "Fire for Hire." This got the attention of KBTV in Denver, a station just beginning its rise to prominence.

Lucas will join several 9NEWS staff members when he joins the Silver Circle, including 9NEWS Anchors Ed Sardella and Mark Koebrich, 9NEWS Reporter Paula Woodward, former KUSA general managers Roger Ogden and Al Flanagan, and former 9NEWS Chief Engineer Don Perez.

Please join 9NEWS in congratulating Ward Lucas and the rest of the 2008 Silver Circle inductees.