Connie LeGrand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Connie LeGrand (born in Columbus, Ohio) is an American television journalist who has served in broadcasting in South Carolina and was host of Speed News (now The Speed Report) from 2002 to 2006.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Growing up in "Bobby Rahal country," LeGrand attended her first auto race in the 1980s: The Indianapolis 500. She went on to graduate from Clemson University in 1989 with a marketing. During college she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority (which included future Access Hollywood host Nancy O'Dell.). LeGrand would then earn a Master's degree from the University of Georgia before going into broadcasting. While attending UGA, LeGrand worked as a radio announcer for Athens radio station 960 AM WRFC and sister station Bulldog 103.7 under the pseudonym Connie Laurens.

[edit] Professional career

She served as co-host of Speed News (now The Speed Report), a motorsports news program (30 minutes during motorsports season on Saturdays. 60 minutes on Sundays.), produced by SPEED Channel with Drew Johnson. She was on the show from 2002 to June 25, 2006. During the first part of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, LeGrand also anchored the SPEED TV series NASCAR Nation.

Prior to her position at SPEED Channel, LeGrand served as a correspondent with WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the CBS affiliate that covers Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina (Greenville, South Carolina, Anderson, South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina).

During the 1990s, WSPA-TV assisted WHNS-TV in their television news development. When the FOX affiliate finally got its own production staff, LeGrand was the only WSPA-TV correspondent to remain with WHNS-TV. For her efforts, LeGrand was promoted to the main female news anchor position in 1997, a position she would hold until her move to SPEED Channel in 2002.

[edit] Education career

Since July 2006, LeGrand is an instructor of Mass Communication in the Department of Fine Arts and Communication Studies at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg. She also continues this role while returning as an anchor to WSPA-TV in Spartanburg.

[edit] Return to television

LeGrand returned to WSPA-TV as 5:30 weeknight anchor in January 2007. She also covers education issues for the affiliate.

[edit] Personal life

LeGrand is divorced and lives in Greenville, South Carolina. She has a son named Cole and a black labrador named "Big Dog".

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Dave Despain (2000-2001) and Bob Varsha (1996-2006) (then Speedvision News Race Week)		 Host of Speed News (The Speed Report since August 6, 2006) with Bob Varsha (1996-2006), Bob Jenkins (2005-6), Ralph Sheehan (2004-6), and Drew Johnson (2006-present)
2002-2006		 Succeeded by
Drew Johnson and Nicole Manske (2006-present)
Persondata
NAME Legrand, Connie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American television personality
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH Columbus, Ohio
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH