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Entries in als (2)
TRAFFIC REPORTING LEGEND DIES
THE RECOGNIZABLE VOICE OF HOUSTON RADIO ICON
MARTY AMBROSE IS SILENCED
You knew his voice and his name, and probably associate them with a traffic jam or an overturned 18 wheeler. In fact, in the mid 70’s he was instrumental in shaping how traffic conditions would forever be reported in the nations fourth largest city. After almost 40 years as Houston’s Dean of Traffic Reporters, radio icon Marty Ambrose has died.
In April, the 69 year old radio personality was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. As the disease progressed quickly through his body, Ambrose remained positive. “I apparently have had this for years – now I just have to play the cards I was dealt. And while I still can, I’d like to educate others about the warning signs I missed.” he said. As late as April of this year, despite his illness, Marty Ambrose was still active as a traffic reporter on KUHF, Houston Public Radio.
As one of the city’s most recognizable names, Marty began reaching out to help his fellow Houstonians. For over thirty years, in addition to working with schools and churches, he hosted over two dozen golf tournaments and served as emcee, auctioneer or a board member to charities including MDA, Arthritis, Leukemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Star of Hope, the Sharma Foundation and MS. He was a member of the American Softball Assoc Hall of Fame and a 2010 nominee to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements are to be announced.
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in Dish, als, dish-houston. marty ambrose, dishhouston, golf, houston, icon, kuhf, lou gehrig's disease, texas radio hall of fame, traffic reporter
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Marty Ambrose, Dean of Traffic...and Everything Else
Houston is full of amazing history and that includes radio and television history. The man that actually started the act of traffic reporting anywhere started it right here in Houston and his name is Marty Ambrose. No doubt you've heard his peaceful, joyful voice over the air waves while you were stuck in traffic somewhere and instead of feeling road rage, you felt a smile break across your face because of the smile you heard in his voice. Marty has recently retired from the job he loves because he has been diagnosed with ALS. If you would like to learn more about the disease or help to raise money for research please CLICK HERE.
DISH Publisher Lori Freese spent a lot of time in radio in Houston and was honored enough to be included in the Roast and Toast of Marty Ambrose that took place on June 18th at the KUHF studios. When we say it was an honor to be included, the room was filled with the who's who of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame Inductees, former and some up for nominanation currently. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Radio Hall of Fame Inductees, Emmy winners, Edward R Murrow winners and so much more. To say were were in awe is an understatement.
We are going to publish Brent Clanton of CNN 650's speech to Marty because it was so beautiful and made all of the points we could ever consider making.
Thank you to Scott Arthur for putting this amazing event together!
No matter where you are in Houston (or most major Radio markets), Marty's the guy who created the network of observers, reporters, and "traffic personalities" that now provide you with up to the minute commuter intel each morning and afternoon.
It's incurable, and he knows it, and so do we.
It's rare that you get the chance to tell someone how much they've meant to you over the years, but on Friday night (6/18) a few of Marty's closest, longest, oldest, bestest friends converged on the Channel-8 TV Studios to pay tribute and roast The Dean of Traffic Reporting.
Some of the comments were hilarious...a few were scandalous...but all were heartfelt. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Here is my homage:
Ed Shane hired me to work for him at KODA-AM (1010) in 1975, and one day he called me at home and asked whether I’d have time to do traffic reports for his morning show as I commuted from Spring Branch to the University of Houston.
I was estatic…and a little intimidated. (For all you young-pups in the room, this was before cell-phones; to do a traffic report, you either had to have a two-way radio, or a pocketfull of quarters and a working knowledge of the locations of a thing we used to call a “pay-phone.”)
Marty Ambrose was running Houston Traffic Central in those days, out of a one-room efficiency apartment in the 2016-Main high rise, overlooking the Pierce Elevated. He invited me to come have a look at their Operation, and I was amazed: scanners and two-way radios packed onto every shelf-surface they could arrange…phones and cords stretched all over the room, and giant, dry-erase boards covered the walls that didn’t hold shelves, for near-instantaneous posting of the latest traffic conditions…as heard on the radios and scanners.
Reports were performed live, eyeballing the dry-erase boards, and a huge, analog clock with a sweep-second hand. I was mesmerized.
I learned a lot from Marty…never worked for him…and in fact, he fed traffic reports to me in later years when I was a Radio morning show host.
I am still learning from Marty Ambrose as he addresses his struggle with ALS with grace, good humor and humility…and a sense of purpose. And one other thing: Marty’s not a Bible-thumping evangelical firebrand. But the sermons he’s preached as he has lived his life are more resounding and profound than anything you’d hear from the pulpit on Sunday.
Marty—I thank you for your kindness…I salute you for your courage…and I am proud to count you as a friend.
KTRK News Anchor Dave Ward has more below.
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in Dish, Dish-houston, als, brent clanton, dishhouston, houston, lanny griffith, lori freese, marty ambrose, pbs, scott arthur
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