Jeff Hullinger, Jerry Carnes, Randy Travis honored by NATAS

Jeff Hullinger with his NATAS Silver Circle prize. CREDIT: NATAS Southeast

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Saturday, August 29, 2015

On Friday night, Jeff Hullinger, Jerry Carnes and Randy Travis were among the veteran broadcasters awarded special Silver Circle awards by the The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast chapter.

Inductees for the Silver Circle have at least 25 years of TV broadcast experience in the Southeast.

– Hullinger, a reporter and anchor for 11 Alive since 2010, spent 18 years at WAGA-TV through 2002 mostly coverings sports. He returned to Atlanta in 2006 as a news anchor for News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB for three years before he returned to Atlanta TV at the NBC affiliate.

He texted me to say he is “deeply appreciative to all of my colleagues at 11 Alive for making it possible.” Indeed before WXIA-TV picked him up in 2010, he was wondering to himself if he’d ever get back on local TV again. So gratitude is certainly the emotion that carries the day.

The station released this video of him in tribute to his time in the market:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiZMwIj9RYQ&w=560&h=315]

Jerry Carnes had worked at 11 Alive for more than 26 years. CREDIT: NATAS

Carnes is a true Atlanta native, born at Emory Hospital, married another local and graduated UGA.

He has been a general assignment reporter most of his quarter century at 11 Alive but signed on two years ago to be the Commuter Dude. What was going to be a temporary gig has become permanent – or however long permanent can be in this business.

Winning the Silver Circle, Carnes texted me, “I think it’s a tribute to God, my family and the people I work with. Without the strength and peace I receive from God and without a supportive, loving wife, I couldn’t have lasted in this business. I’ve been incredibly blessed to work with talented people who are just like family.”

He said the reward “has me reflecting and focusing on those times when I’ve taken advantage of the God-given opportunities to touch people in a positive and perhaps a healing way. Although I’ve made some bone-headed mistakes along the way, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Randy Travis has been part of WAGA-TV going back a quarter century. CREDIT: NATAS

Travis joined what was then the CBS affiliate WAGA-TV in 1990. He became part of the new investigative “I-team” in 1994 and has been there for the past 21 years.

He focuses on consumer rip-offs, criminal wrongdoing and government mismanagement and has won many Emmys and two Edward R. Morrow awards.

Like Carnes, Travis is a UGA grad. In fact, they were in the graduating class.

“We worked together on a documentary about the death penalty our senior year,” Carnes said, going back 33 years. “We’ve been good friends for over 30 years. I think Randy is one of the best reporters in Atlanta. A good friend and solid journalist.”

He has also run in every Peachtree Road Race since 1993.

***

Evelyn Mims has been in the broadcast industry for 39 years, most of that at 11Alive. CREDIT: NATAS

Others honored include:

Greg Stone, WSB Atlanta, vice president and general manager

Evelyn Mims, Mims Media Group, formerly a long-time community relations specialist at 11 Alive who recently retired

Bob Neal, Bob Neal Media, long-time Turner sportscaster

Jeff Reid, WXIA Atlanta, manager of enterprise content

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