KCTV general manager, 9 other employees accept buyout

On the last day that employees of KCTV, Channel 5, could accept early-retirement offers, several did - including the station's general manager, John Rose. Rose, 55, will retire June 30, taking advantage of a special voluntary buyout offer from Meredith Corp. of Des Moines, Iowa. Others who announced their departures Friday were sports anchor/reporter Jack Harry and features reporter Steve Dawson. Peter Barrett, KCTV's program director, said 10 Channel 5 employees, on- and off-camera, were taking the buyout. The station had announced earlier that longtime news anchor Wendall Anschutz and "Call for Action" reporter Stan Cramer would also take early retirement. Rose started in television in 1970 as a sales representative at WDAF, Channel 4, and worked his way up the Taft Broadcasting chain at stations in Philadelphia, Washington and Cincinnati before joining Meredith in 1989. "John's dedication and contributions to KCTV have led the station to the success it enjoys today," Cary Jones, president of Meredith's broadcast group, said in a statement. "We will miss his vision and his leadership, but we wish him and his wife, Karen, a long and healthy retirement." A successor has not been named. Rose serves as president of the Missouri Broadcasters Association and on the boards of the Kansas City Advertising Club Foundation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. - You can reach Aaron Barnhart through the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Rose @ART:Photo (color) >>>