Longtime KFVS12 news anchor Jim Burns retires after almost 40 years

On Friday, KFVS12�s �The Breakfast Show� said goodbye to longtime anchor Jim Burns, whose retirement began after the show aired.

Burns has served nearly 40 years at the television station � for 36 years, he anchored the morning show.

Burns was hired in 1979 by then-news director Mike Shain.

In his hiring memo in 1979, Shain wrote about Burns, �I feel he has the proven ability to anchor news, report, do public affairs, as well as produce a news program.�

Burns began producing and anchoring �The Breakfast Show� in June 1982, replacing then-morning anchor Dave Courvoisier.

KFVS12 news anchor Crystal Britt smiles at Jim Burns during Burns’ final morning show before retirement Friday at the KFVS12 studio in downtown Cape Girardeau. Burns has been with the television station for 39 years.TYLER GRAEF ~ tgraef@semissourian.com

�Back then it was common for anchors to produce their own shows, and we had a skeleton crew,� Burns said in a news release. �Now The Breakfast Show has a dedicated staff of on-air contributors, behind-the-scenes broadcast and digital content producers, along with a full technical staff.�

Burns said in the release that when he started, �The Breakfast Show� was only an hour-long broadcast. Now, it runs two and a half hours each morning.

�There have been many changes since Jim joined KFVS12,� Roger Seay, news director, said in the release. �Changes in sets, changes in the newsroom, changes in staff, equipment, analog to digital, you name it. But the one thing that has been consistent through all that time is Jim�s commitment to be the best at everything he does.�

The Breakfast Show won an Emmy Award for Best Newscast in 2008.

Burns is a native of Blakely, Georgia, and began his broadcast career at age 16. He earned a degree in broadcast news from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia.

KFVS12 news anchors Jim Burns and Crystal Britt are seen Friday at the KFVS12 news desk during Burns’ final morning show before retirement Friday in downtown Cape Girardeau.TYLER GRAEF ~ tgraef@semissourian.com

Prior to KFVS12, Burns was an anchor/reporter at the CBS affiliate in Dothan, Alabama.

�Jim Burns has been the face of KFVS12 for nearly four decades,� Chris Conroy, KFVS12 vice president and general manager, said. �With Jim�s work ethic, dedication to journalism, along with his honest and sincere personality, I can�t think of a better image to have represented this station.�

�Jim is a true professional; I learn from him every single day,� �The Breakfast Show� co-anchor Crystal Britt said in the release. �I have never worked with anyone who has a greater commitment to excellence. I am so thankful for his leadership, and his friendship.�

Longtime �The Breakfast Show� co-worker Brian Alworth said in the release, �It was truly an honor to work with Jim all of those years. He has set a high standard for the rest of us, and for this industry as a whole. To this day, he still reviews airchecks to see what he could have done better during his shows. That�s dedication!�

�The Breakfast Show� producer Jim Eftink has worked side by side with Burns almost from the beginning.

�It�s been an honor to work with Jim all of these years,� Eftink said in the release. �Every single day, every single newscast, Jim strives for perfection. He just doesn�t know any other way.�

�It would be difficult to measure the impact that Jim Burns has had on the Heartland,� Bob Reeves, who worked with Burns when he started on �The Breakfast Show,� said in the release. �At least two generations of viewers have counted on him each and every morning to help get their day started.�

Conroy, speaking on behalf of all employees at KFVS12 and viewers throughout the area, congratulated Jim and his wife, Lisa, on his retirement.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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