Date: 2016-05-12
Speaker: MICHAEL F. DOYLE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsyl

vania. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize one of my constituents. Harold Hayes. who is retiring after more than 35 years in broadcasting in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. Harold has a lifelong connection to the city of Pittsburgh. Born in McKeesport. Harold went on to graduate from South Hills High School and then from the University of Pittsburgh. He joined KDKATV as a reporter in 1979. and he has been there ever since. providing the people of southwestern Pennsylvania with solid. objective reporting about the news that matters to them. There is no doubt that Harold Hayes has served as Pittsburghs reporter throughout his many years with KDKA. I want to commend Harold for his contributions to our community. congratulate him on his retirement. and wish him all the best as he begins the next phase of his life. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize one of my constituents. Harold Hayes. whos retiring after more than thirtyfive years in broadcasting in Pittsburgh. PA. Harold has a lifelong connection to the City of Pittsburgh. Born in McKeesport. Harold went on to graduate from South Hills High School and then from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 with a Bachelors degree in Speech and Communications. After graduation. Harold worked as a research assistant in the "Reading is Fundamental" program. sponsored by the Urban League of Pittsburgh. In August of 1979. Harold joined KDKATV as a reporter. and hes been there ever since. providing the people of southwestern Pennsylvania with solid. objective reporting about the news that matters to them. Since joining the station. Harold has covered everything from military operations in the Middle East to landmark local court cases. He has amassed an impressive portfolio of overseas coverage. including reporting on Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia in 1990. the government of Kuwaits memorial to the local lives lost during Operation Desert Storm in 1993. and the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. Yet his touch has really been felt locally. not only reporting on the daytoday lives of Pittsburghers. but even making sure to follow up on stories that made headlines years ago. For example. he covered the 1981 court desegregation order that resulted in the creation of the Woodland Hills School District. Twenty years later. he found one of the students he had interviewed back then. and discovered that the former student now had a child who was about to graduate from Woodland Hills as well. It is this type of dedication and compassion that has distinguished Harold from most other reporters in Pittsburgh for years. Harold has covered both tragedy and triumph. as well as the personal stories of working people. Presidents. and protesters all with equal grace. fairness. compassion. and his special dry sense of humor. Harold brings both humility and perspective to his work every day. and because of that. has remained a consummate professional throughout his 37 years of work. He represents that high level of personal integrity and the demanding work ethic that characterize the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania. There is no doubt that Harold Hayes has served as "Pittsburghs Reporter" throughout his many years with KDKA. We will miss Harolds presence on the air. Harold represents the best that there is in broadcast journalism. and he will be recognized for his contributions by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in September when he will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Philadelphia. PA. Harolds commitment to our community extends far beyond his career as a newsman. He has also become a spokesperson for the Negro Educational Emergency Fund (NEED). and he created a scholarship in his mothers name for local students. In addition. he helps raise money for the Rev. J. Harold Hayes Scholarship. named for his late father. a former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport. I want to commend Harold for his contributions to our community. congratulate him on his retirement. and wish him all the best as he begins the next phase of his life.