Gib Shanley

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Gib Shanley (August 6, 1931 - April 6, 2008) was an Emmy Award-winning sports anchor/reporter for ABC-TV affiliate WEWS-TV, Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio.

[edit] Biography

Shanley grew up in Shadyside, Ohio, attended Shadyside High School. From there he went to radio broadcasting school in Washington D.C., where he started his career in radio.

Shanley first came to Cleveland in 1961, and worked for WGAR AM-1220 Radio as play by the NFL's Cleveland Browns and the Ohio State Football Games. Shanley continued his work with the Browns as co-commentator and play-by-play with the likes of sportcasters Jim Graner, Jim Mueller, and former Browns' offensive tackle Doug Dieken until 1984. At about the same time, Shanley began his work on television as the evening sports anchor for ABC-TV affiliate WEWS, where he also served as sports director.

In November 1979, Shanley gained widespread attention locally when made a controversial public statement against the public displaying of the Iranian Flag and the burning of the American Flag by pro-Ayatullah Khomeini supporters in New York City by burning an Iranian flag himself on a WEWS-TV 11:00 p.m. telecast during the Hostage Crisis in Iran.^[1]^[2]

Shanley continued full time in his job capacity at WEWS before becoming Sports Director for the then fledgling independent station WUAB-TV channel 43's 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts in 1988. Shanley was the lead sports anchor, and he continued there until 1993.

In 1995 Shanley returned to WEWS-TV as its weekend sports anchor. In addition to this, in 1996 Shanley became guest commentator on the weekly sports wrap-up/NFL coverage and commentary show "Countdown to 99" that was hosted by the late Casey Coleman and former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Reggie Rucker.

In 1991 Shanley was inducted in the Ohio Broadcastsrs' Hall of Fame.

Shanley served as a guest commentator on WEWS-TV sports wrap-up show Sports Sunday.

Gib Shanley died on April 6, 2008 of pneumonia.^[2]^[3]