Linda Lorelle is an Emmy Award winning anchor whose reports have not only touched lives, but saved them, as well. Just ask the Houston area women who credit her series “Buddy Check 2: Beating the Breast Cancer Odds” for helping them detect early breast cancer. From her most recent Emmy for “Beyond Brown vs. Board: The Journey Continues”, a documentary on how Houston desegregated its schools, to her Emmy Award-winning, first person account of another local news anchor's battle with cancer, Linda's stories continually garner critical acclaim while making a significant impact on the lives of Houston viewers.
Linda takes pride in the variety of stories and events she has covered through the years as a reporter and anchor, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; President Bill Clinton's first inauguration; President George W. Bush's first inauguration; the shuttle flight of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color in space; John Glenn's return to space; the shuttle Columbia tragedy; Super Bowl XXXVIII; numerous NBA and WNBA Finals; the World Series; the Houston Rockets in China, and President George H.W. Bush's 80th birthday, complete with a first person account of what it's like to sky dive with the Golden Knights of the U.S. Army. For the record, it was a blast! Linda is honored that her documentary on the former President now has two permanent homes: at the Bush Presidential Library in College Station and in the Peabody Collection of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, Illinois. The Brown vs. Board documentary also rests in the Museum.
Linda Lorelle made her move to broadcast journalism in 1987 after a successful career as a professional dancer and actress. At that point, Linda had already attained a B.A. in Developmental Psychology and a B.A. in Italian Language from Stanford University when she set her sights on a new career in journalism. She went back to school to attain an M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. While in graduate school, she became weekend anchor at KOMU-TV, the top-rated NBC affiliate in Columbia, Missouri. From there it was on to reporting at KMOV-TV, the CBS affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1989, Linda signed on with KPRC-TV in Houston as a weekend anchor, but was quickly promoted to anchoring the weekday 6 and 10 pm newscasts, a position she held for 14 years. In the last two and a half years of her employment at KPRC, Linda moved to a more family-friendly schedule, anchoring the 5 and 6 pm newscasts as well as the mid-day and 4pm newscasts. Throughout her years at KPRC, she anchored Dateline Houston, spearheaded the station's documentary projects and hosted several special programs, including the Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon and the College Fund (UNCF) Telethon. Linda is excited to have launched Lorelle Media, LLC, a full-service multi-media production and consulting company. Lorelle Media produces original content for broadcast and services the needs of its corporate clients through marketing, strategic connection building and video production. In December 2010, the Lorelle Media/Believe Ballroom Dance Studios production “Imagine Ballroom” broadcast its inaugural season on FOX 26 and my20 in Houston.
Linda's special interest in education and children led her to found the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity that provides major college scholarships and support to Houston area students. The LLSF ( www.lindalorelle.org) targets students with average grades from challenging backgrounds. To date, the LLSF has awarded nearly $2.6 million in scholarships to 278 students, has more than 100 college graduates and three sitting Advisory Board members who are former LLSF scholarship recipients. Each year the organization also hosts thousands of Houston area students and parents for a free, citywide College Preparatory Conference.
In addition to her two Emmys, Linda is also a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television, as well as numerous honors on the local, regional and national level.
Linda's community activities include current and past, board and advisory board memberships in: the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund; the Texas Woman’s University Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center; Lasco Enterprises, the Houston Police Foundation; the High School for Performing and Visual Arts; Susan G. Komen Foundation; Pink Ribbons Project; Sisters Network; San Jacinto Girl Scouts; the Women's Resource; Society of Professional Journalists; the Houston Zoo; the Junior League; the Children's Assessment Center Foundation; Casa de Esperanza.
Linda is devoted to her husband, Lou, and their daughter, Lindsey. She is passionate about ballroom dancing and often performs locally with her partner who is a 6-time national champion. She loves to read, work out, play tennis, figure skate and listen to music. Linda speaks Italian and French. She's working on Spanish.