24 responses so far ↓

• 1 Nathan F. // Mar 10, 2009 at 7:56 am

  Wow. Unbelievable.

  What a great guy and a great reporter.

  MY condolences go out to his family, and to the staff of WHAS.

• 2 Steve & Becky // Mar 10, 2009 at 8:25 am

  It’s a sad day for us, and Louisville.

  We’ll miss our old friend deeply.

• 3 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Mar 10, 2009 at 8:54 am

  My deepest and most heartfelt condolences for the Chuck Olmstead family this morning. Chuck was a CLASS ACT!

  I pretty much grew up with Chuck on the air. His reporting style was always earnest and straightforward, and I felt like I was always getting the full, unbiased scoop if I got it from him. I will miss him very much.

• 4 Mary // Mar 10, 2009 at 8:56 am

  I will miss him. It is sad day for everyone. He made you listen to what he had to say.

• 5 Andy Alcock // Mar 10, 2009 at 9:33 am

  If there was a Mount Rushmore for Louisville television journalists, he’d be on it.
  There was no one quite like Chuck in this town.
  It’s a very sad loss for the entire community.

• 6 Gordon // Mar 10, 2009 at 9:35 am

  My thoughts and prayers are with the Olmstead family and his WHAS family. Even though I work at a competing station, all of us here truly respected Chuck as one of the best in the history of Louisville TV. You story on the hall of fame is ironic, cause he will be in there soon. A geat loss for the community.

• 7 Melanie Snow & Erik Waxler // Mar 10, 2009 at 9:49 am

  Thank you Chuck for always being YOU in a business that forces us to to evolve..sometimes in ways that don’t reflect good, straightforward storytelling. Thank you for being one of the best storytellers I have ever known and always giving viewers the hard facts in terms we can all relate to and understand. Most of all, thank you for being the best guy just to sit and have a chat with…leaving me with a smile on my face everytime. God bless you and your precious family. Melanie Snow and Erik Waxler send our deepest condolences.

• 8 Cary B. Willis // Mar 10, 2009 at 10:05 am

  Sorry to hear that. Chuck was a good, honest reporter and a fun guy to hang around with.

• 9 James Zambroski // Mar 10, 2009 at 10:26 am

  Such sad news…Chuck was always good to me, even though I was the “new” guy, working for another station. My best memory of this lion in journalism will be that always behaved just like a regular person; being on TV never went to his head, never affected who he was. Thanks, Chuck for helpin’ the new guy feel a little a better out there.

  ZAM
  Tampa, FL

• 10 The Mayor of Television // Mar 10, 2009 at 10:26 am

  Olmstead = The Best. A sad day in Louisville.

• 11 Dan B. // Mar 10, 2009 at 11:00 am

  So very sad to heard about the passing of Chuck Olmstead. I hope he knew what he meant to us viewers. He left us too early.

• 12 will mapes // Mar 10, 2009 at 11:02 am

  God bless you Chuck. You will be greatly missed.

• 13 Travis K. Kircher // Mar 10, 2009 at 11:37 am

  Chuck was a great guy – not only on camera, but off camera as well. This is a sad day for Louisville journalism. We’ve lost a legend.

• 14 Abby Miller // Mar 10, 2009 at 12:18 pm

  Chuck called me “kid” from the minute I stepped onto the scene more than a decade ago…and ten years later…he was still calling me kid. Chuck had the uncanny ability to mentor a colleague or a competitor and we all felt that much wiser for his advice. I’ll never forget covering the most high profile trials along side him. I’d sit and time code sound bites, scribble furiously, and Chuck would saunter in hours later, jot down a few bites and be out the door….and his reports were always right on the money. Want to feel humbled? Ride up the escalator with Chuck in a public building. Everyone knew him, spoke to him, and had a story to pass along. I always felt most comfortable just watching his magic. And I’ll never forget the first year I was up for a “Best of Louisville” award for reporting….Chuck was up for the same award. I was naive, had stars in my eyes thinking maybe, just maybe….Who won? Chuck of course, and I think he may have been on the cover of the magazine that year just for good measure. He walked up to me after the ceremony and said “sorry kid, but don’t worry, your time will come.” I have so many fond memories of Chuck and I will miss him. There was no finer journalist in this city and he will never be replaced. To his family, you are in my family’s prayers. God bless you.

• 15 Tony Hyatt // Mar 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm

  When I heard the news this morning, the first thing I thought of was how Chuck would answer a phone… “This is Olmstead…”. Many of us who worked with him, always knew he would cut to the chase. It did not matter what gimmick or research some new News Director or consultant would throw out there, Chuck would handle it the way it should be handled. Straight and to the point. He was a man who would always joke with you that one day he was going to go out and get a real job. But we all knew he had found his true calling. We are all better for knowing him. My thoughts and prayers are with Candi and the kids…

• 16 Sean Bartel // Mar 10, 2009 at 2:11 pm

  The beauty of Chuck was that nothing about him should have fit in Louisville, Kentucky. Heck, find any reporter around with an accent and I can guarantee it won’t be a thick Boston one.

  But the great thing? It worked, and worked because once you got to know him, either in person or on the tube, you just couldn’t turn away.

  Chuck became part of the community. He loved horse racing so much photogs would be asked to stop at Churchill after stories so Chuck could place a bet. He was so well known that people would ask every reporter about him. And because of his accent and some of his constant traits, every WHAS employee had their own Olmstead impression.

  That was done out of love – in my three years there, I never heard anyone who disliked him.

  All the best to the family. WHAS, local TV and Louisville itself lost a legend.

• 17 Mike Petchenik // Mar 10, 2009 at 2:47 pm

  My condolences to Chuck’s family and to his colleagues at WHAS-TV. He died way too young.

• 18 Bennett Haeberle // Mar 10, 2009 at 4:15 pm

  From someone who grew in Louisville watching Chuck on WHAS-TV, his loss is beyond words.

  I always enjoyed his humor and candor in the field.

  My thoughts and prayers are with WHAS-TV and his family.

• 19 Susan Sweeney Crum // Mar 10, 2009 at 5:29 pm

  How sad to hear this news today… I was so hoping after the last update that he would pull through this. How fortunate I was when I first started on the TV side to have my desk in the newsroom butt up face to face with Chuck’s because who better to learn from! And he was always willing to help, never condescending to the “newbie” and always such a gentleman to everyone. Even Denny (who really doesn’t follow the media folks all that much) commented when Chuck first became ill on how much he admired him. He is missed, and to Charles and your brother and mom, my thoughts and prayers are with you. And it’s my belief that Chuck is whole and healthy once again, and keeping watch over his family. I’m so sorry we’ll miss the visitation this weekend (out of town) but know that we are thinking of you.

  Susan

• 20 James R. // Mar 10, 2009 at 5:47 pm

  Chuck Olmstead was a working mans man. You could always trust him and knew that he was a class act. Peace and God bless you.

• 21 Brandon Doss & Family // Mar 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm

  I feel that there is now a huge void in local TV. Chuck was such an huge icon. In my years in public service I got to meet Chuck very briefly back in 1996 he was about to do a report an he definatley had his “Game Face” on but still took the time to say “hello to us!” There will never be another reporter like him. His voice will be missed greatly in our home every evening when the news is on. Goodbye Chuck! I am honored to say you were a part of our lives. Our thought and prayers to your family. Brandon, Stefanie and Hannah Doss

• 22 Rob Mattheu // Mar 10, 2009 at 7:11 pm

  In a time when so many reporters, anchors, and other personalities seem to rotate in and out every few years, Chuck was a steady presence. He was larger than life, and dare I say, probably the only reporter at any Louisville station that 99% of the people in town had heard of. It is so good to hear so many people talk about the other side of Chuck, which I don’t think many of us knew. RIP Chuck.

• 23 Marypat Chiavaroli // Mar 12, 2009 at 2:11 am

  Fifteen years ago I walked into the newsroom and watched reporter Chuck Olmstead with awe. I have so many wonderful memories of my good friend. I barely know where to begin. I’ll share just a few. I was the newsroom administrative assistant back then and I asked to shadow a crew on a live shot. I asked to go with Chuck. I knew he had such command of his craft. Chuck covered a press conference that afternoon…and then he disappeared! So, I asked the photog where he went and was quickly told that’s how Chuck works, “he gets his thoughts together; he’ll come back and we’ll edit the story.” “Smooth as silk”, I thought.

  One time I pitched a story to our news director about taking a look back at Old Walnut Street’s halcyon days and I asked Chuck for help. Chuck handled the interview that kicked off the package – an interview with pianist Ray Johnson up at Jack Fry’s. While playing Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll” Mr. Johnson reminisced about live jazz at the Top Hat, and other clubs along Walnut Street. Chuck was in his element, and despite my apprehension…he even insisted I sit at the piano with Mr. Johnson and play along a little. Chuck handled the interview with finesse – with this Sonny Rollins kind of air – a posture, a look and a sly smile. A generous, warm-hearted conversation took place. Wow, that was such a good day. With Chuck involved, that uplifting news story – my story – hit air. Chuck was simply a quality human being. He encouraged and mentored without making it obvious.

  Another thing I’ll always remember came without warning. In the middle of any quiet or mundane afternoon, out of the blue…as if making an introduction to a performance, he’d say editor Leon Ritter’s name with this bellowing command surging into a crescendo, “L-E-O-N–R-I-T-T-E-R”! I’d hear it in my office and laugh out loud every time.

  Chuck also decided to make sure I experienced Churchill Downs during Derby week “the right way”. He said I needed to get out of the newsroom and told me to meet him backside at sunrise. And there it was – the beauty and grace of the horses that early in the morning with the twin spires looming in the distance as the sun crept up. I soaked it all in with sheer joy. It was terrific fun because every five steps or so folks stopped him to say hello and forever the gentleman, Chuck introduced me to the people he knew and worked me into the conversations.

  Chuck’s even the reason I drive an ’83 Mercedes, which I would normally describe as a little “Mrs. Big Stuff” for me, LOL. When my old $500 Corolla broke down I asked Chuck for used car advice because he knew a lot about cars. I thought he was crazy when he suggested I consider a ‘Benz. Without being preachy, he explained to me why that model classic car was not only a good buy, but never to think of myself as not deserving in some way to drive such an automobile. He practically insisted I take one for a test drive. Needless to say I’m still driving it and it’s pushing 308,000 miles.

  Chuck Olmstead defined class by his style. He always, always took a stand against what he considered unnecessary stories and nonsense. Chuck would usually say what most of us thought and I admired that to no end. As my days at the station dwindled down last year, Chuck regularly visited my office to check in on me. That meant a lot to me. That’s how he was. A giant of a person. A giant heart. I’m a better person for knowing Chuck and will carry my memories of him forever and try to make a difference to others with similar grace as he did for me.

• 24 Pam & Larrie Hazelwood // Mar 14, 2009 at 8:47 am

  Chuck, God bless you , your wife and kids,You will be missed very much

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