SYRACUSE — Longtime local broadcast journalist Paul Ennis has died, according to a recently published obituary.
Ennis, who retired in 2006 after a long run as Executive Producer at NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV), was 79 years old when he died on Friday, October 9.
According to his obituary, Ennis got started in broadcasting as a student at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. On the student radio station, he delivered newscasts and hosted a folk music radio show called “Folkways.”
After getting his career started in radio, Ennis — like many others who were in local radio news — eventually moved over to television. One CNYTVNews reader recalled when Ennis could be seen and heard on both WSYR 570 and WSYR-TV in the 1970s, back when the WSYR-TV callsign belonged to channel 3 and both stations were co-owned and located in the same building.
Indeed, Ennis was one of the few people who held the distinction of working for both the original WSYR-TV (before channel 3 became WSTM in 1980) and the current WSYR-TV, which are the call letters channel 9 (formerly WIXT) adopted in 2005, during a period where it and 570 WSYR were both owned by Clear Channel.
After some time on the air, Ennis would eventually move into off-camera roles: assignment editor, producer and then executive producer; the latter in which he oversaw story selection and flow for the ABC affiliate’s 5:00, 5:30 and 6:00pm weeknight newscasts.
Throughout his career, Ennis received many awards for his work. Among the highlights, he was presented with the Syracuse Press Club’s Selwyn Kershaw Professional Standards Award in 2001. Six years later, just after his retirement, Ennis was honored with a spot on Press Club’s Wall of Distinction in the Onondaga County Civic Center.
In retirement, Ennis learned how to create stained glass and enjoyed it so much, “the hobby turned into a business,” he wrote on his Facebook business page, “but the fun has never left it.” Here’s a sample of his work:
Ennis had a number of other hobbies throughout his life. His obituary recounts Ennis taking up oil painting, computer programming, winemaking, photography, cooking and playing guitar.
Ennis is survived by a daughter, three siblings, two nephews and a niece. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife.
Calling hours are Saturday from noon to 2pm at Fairchild & Meech DeWitt Chapel on Erie Blvd East, with services to follow at 2pm.
David Krause says:
I went to SU with Paul. Great person, very talented and dedicated, and thorough.