Another longtime member of the FOX 26 Houston news team is leaving the station in June. Mark Berman, the network’s athletic director, announced on Twitter on Friday that he is retiring after 43 years on the job (including 37 years at FOX 26). His last night on FOX 26 News at Nine will be June 12.
“Growing up in my hometown of Hempstead, my dream was to be a sportscaster on television in Houston,” Berman wrote in a statement. “FOX 26 helped make that dream a reality.”
In his statement, Berman said working for FOX 26 General Manager D’Artagnan Bebel made the experience even more special. “He’s a leader, mentor and father figure all rolled into one,” he wrote. “What a privilege it has been to cover sports in the great city of Houston and to work at FOX 26, a great Houston based television network.”
A native of Houston, Berman grew up in Hempstead and graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Prior to FOX 26, he worked as a weekend anchor/reporter at KOSA-TV in Odessa, Texas and then as a sports director for KIKK Radio in Pasadena, Texas. In 1986 he became a weekend sports host/reporter for FOX 26 and became the network’s sports director in 1988, a position he has held ever since.
Berman’s announcement comes just days after FOX 26 Houston Morning Show host and FOX 26 News at Noon host Jose Griñan announced that he too is retiring at the end of June after 30 years with the station. During Tuesday’s broadcast, Griñan said he plans to work with nonprofits in the community.
“Thirty years in one place has really shaped me because I’ve spent practically half my life here at the station with you by my side,” Griñan told co-host Melissa Wilson. “Just wanted to say thank you to everyone on the staff here at FOX 26 who have been very heartwarming and good luck to everyone in the community who has supported me over the past 30 years as well.”
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