Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
Venice Yacht Club
Speaker Linda Carson - Local television personality
Cost $60 per person
Make plans now to attend Venice Heritage's (VHI) annual dinner May 25
th
as television reporter and local personality Linda Carson joins us in celebrating this place we call home.
"We are fortunate to have such a rich cultural history here on the Suncoast, and Venice is certainly the gem in that crown," said Carson. "I look forward to the conversation about some of our favorite landmarks."
Carson has covered some of the nation's top stories during her journalistic career, spanning more than a half century. She joined the ABC-7 news team in 1995, and currently serves as both a reporter and co-host of the station's daily talk show, "Suncoast View." In addition to reporting features on entertainment and local women of note, she also reports stories each Monday on local history, stories she calls "A Place we call Home."
Carson began her television career in 1964 as a "TV Weather Girl" at Channel 11 in Atlanta. She was told then that it would be a short career since women wouldn't be accepted on TV after age 30! She went on to become one of the first female TV reporters and one of the first prime time female anchors in the country.
Assigned to cover the Civil Rights Movement while in Atlanta, Carson spent much time with Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King. She received the Associated Press Award for her death row interview with Danny Rolling, who murdered five students at the University of Florida in 1990. Carson also witnessed his execution and reported live from the prison following his death.
While covering the Suncoast, Carson's job has put her at the forefront of news. She was in the Sarasota elementary school classroom with President George W. Bush on Sept. 11 when he was informed of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. She walked with the president to the school's media center where he addressed the nation and
discussed the attack. She continued to follow the story the next day when it was learned that two of the terrorists piloting the planes had taken flight lessons in Venice.
Carson married Bud Carson, who at the time served as head coach of the Georgia Tech football team. Following him to various positions with professional football teams around the country, she held numerous reporting and executive news positions with television stations in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Philadelphia just to name a few.
"Having covered Sarasota and Manatee Counties for more than two decades, Linda enjoys a comprehensive view of this area's unique history," said Jean Trammell, president of VHI. "We look forward to her presentation and sharing with us her perspective on this special place we call home."
Tickets are $60 and may be purchased on our website or by sending a check payable to
Venice Heritage, P.O. Box 1190, Venice, Florida 34284-1190.
Proceeds will be used to complete restoration of the Lord-Higel House.
