WSFA News 12 in Montgomery honors late news director
WSFA News 12 in Montgomery, Alabama, carried on the legacy of its late news director and raised funds for a Troy University scholarship over the weekend.
A year and a day after the passing of WSFA's beloved news director Desmond Wingard, members of the news station and Montgomerylocals took to Alabama's capital city streets for a 5K in his honor.
The 3.1-mile trek saw more than 100 runners which, coupled with donations and sponsorships, raised $15,000 for Troy University's Desmond Wingard Legacy Memorial Scholarship.
"Everybody who participated, for the most part, knew or had some connection with Desmond Wingard," said WSFA Vice President and General Manager Mark Bunting. "Desmond Wingard was so unbelievably important to this community; he never forgot where he grew up, and he always wanted to give back.
"So many of our philanthropic events over the years are because of something that he thought up."
Wingard grew up in the Montgomery area before studying journalism at Troy University and going on to work at WSFA. His love of his alma mater and journalism led WSFA to kickstart his memorial scholarship, which looks to support broadcast journalism students at Troy University.
"His approach to life was just 'how can we better it for the next man up,'" said WSFA Reporter and Political Correspondent Jessica Umbro. "I just think that's something that we can support by doing runs like this, by coming out to not only support his family but to support his Troy family and to support his WSFA family."
Before coming to Montgomery to work at WSFA, Umbro had never visited Alabama. She said Wingard helped her every step of the way, from helping her find apartments for her to call home to restaurants and gyms he thought she would enjoy – all while actively working and battling cancer.
"He thought about it from start to finish – not just what would the workplace look like for you but what would your life look like for you," Umbro said. "He was the same when I toured and the same on the last day I saw him at WSFA.
"I know that's how everyone remembers him - as someone who was positive and wanted the best for everybody, and it's just really incredible that we were able to support that again here today by running."
Gavan Baxley is a Troy alumnus who met Wingard during his time studying broadcast journalism. He said during just that one meeting with Wingard, he was able to tell how genuine of a person he was and walked away with advice that would guide him into his career.
Baxley also said the reason he came to Montgomery to run, and win first place overall, was to support the legacy scholarship in Wingard's name.
"The money going toward a scholarship for other Troy University students is what I think is really important, because I know the impact that program has had on my career already and so many others as well," Baxley said. "I think that's a big deal, to provide more opportunity for people in our area and to be able to grow the art of journalism within the Montgomery and Troy areas."
At the event, those who got to meet and know Wingard spoke about how much he cared and advocated for them. Through the 5K and the scholarship it supports, those same people are making sure they keep Wingard's care and advocacy alive with every step.
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