Howard Caldwell

1991

Howard Caldwell joined the WRTV news staff in May of 1959 after four years as news manager for WTHI Radio/TV in Terre Haute, Indiana. Before making his formal entrance into journalism, Howard spent a year aboard a South Pacific Minesweeper during World War II as a radio operator and later was the editor of a Naval Reserve newsletter during the Korean conflict. In between military commitments, he worked a year on a small town weekly newspaper.

Howard has been a reporter/anchor for more than 30 years. During that time, assignments have placed him squarely in the middle of political, labor and social controversies that have helped shape Indiana. His consistent professionalism in reporting those kinds of events prompted the Indianapolis Press Club in 1978 to name him Newsman of the Year, the first TV newscaster in the area to be so honored.

Early in his career, he was sent on a month-long assignment to the Far East and became the first American newsman to interview newly elected Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The interview was used nationally on the NBC “Today” program and his documentary on hunger in India led to a 1967 Indianapolis Press Club Award.

Howard holds memberships in several civic organizations and has been a member of the Butler University Board of Trustees. He was named an “Outstanding Alum” of the school in 1982 and received an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree in 1984. In 1983, his college social fraternity, Sigma Chi, name him “Hoosier Sig” of the Year. In 1984, was awarded a plaque of appreciation from the Indiana State Symphony Society for preparing a history of the Circle Theater. Howard is past president of The Service Club of Indianapolis, a professional/business group of war veterans. He’s a former president of the Indianapolis Press Club and Central Indiana Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists.

He is a 1950 graduate of Butler University with an A.B. in journalism and a Masters in Political Science (1968).

Besides co-anchoring WRTV 6 News at 5 PM, Howard writes and produces his “Howard’s Indiana” series, and periodically presents commentaries called “Perspective.” These “Perspectives” are personal observations about news happenings in the city and state. Three times he has received recognition from Associated Press and United Press International news services for these efforts.
Howard has also written two books. The first entitled “Indianapolis,” features text by Howard and photographs by Darryl Jones. The second is entitled “Hinkle,” which is a biography of the life of former basketball coach Tony Hinkle.

He won a Casper Award in 1989 for “A Delicate Balance” a documentary on local police and citizen relations. Howard is married, the father of three married daughters and the grandfather of two boys.