[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 158 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E838-E839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JOSEPH W. HESTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 2020

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joseph W. 
Heston for his 45-year career in broadcast journalism, including more 
than 20 years on the central coast of California, and congratulate him 
on his retirement.
  Joe's early career began with Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1976 at 
WJZ-TV in Baltimore. Over the next eight years, Joseph held various 
production positions at WJZ-TV, WBZ-TV in Boston, and KDKA-TV in 
Pittsburgh. In 1984, Joe began working with Hearst Television, where he 
would spend the rest of his career. He joined Hearst at WCVB-TV in 
Boston, where he was executive producer of programming and assistant 
program director, before moving to WBAL-TV in Baltimore, where he was 
vice president and station manager, and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, where he 
also served as vice president and station manager.
  Joe's career took him to the California in 1999, where he began his 
role as president and general manager of KSBW-TV, the Heart Television 
station serving the Central Coast. His time at KSBW has been marked by 
a number of milestones. In 2001, KSBW launched its official website, 
which now averages over 6 million pageviews a month with over 500,000 
unique users and is the region's most visited local site. In 2002, Joe 
oversaw the construction and launch of the market's first HDTV station. 
In April 2011, Joe oversaw the launch of ``Central Coast ABC''--the 
first local ABC affiliate ever on the Central Coast. In April 2016, he 
helped launch KSBW's second channel, the Spanish-language network 
Estrella. During Joe's time as president and general manager, KSBW has 
been recognized with Radio Television Digital News Association regional 
Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Newscast and Breaking News, and 
regional Emmy Awards for Best Newscast and Best Breaking News Coverage.
  Throughout his time on the Central Coast, Joe has always had the 
priority of giving back to his community personally and through his 
work at KSBW. Joe is a former member of the Board of the United Way of 
Monterey County and oversaw KSBW's launch of the early

[[Page E839]]

childhood initiative ``Success By 6'' with the United Way of Santa Cruz 
County and Monterey County to create opportunities for low-income 
infants, toddlers, and young children to receive high-quality 
education. In 2005, he led the development of the teacher recognition 
project, the KSBW Crystal Apple Award, and in 2012, he led the 
implementation of KSBW's Golden Whistle award for outstanding high 
school coaches. Heston is also a former member of the Board of Trustees 
of York School and the Board of the Monterey County Regional Health 
Development Group. Most recently, after identifying the critical need 
due to the ongoing public health crisis, Joe led KSBW in raising more 
than $525,000 on behalf of area food banks to aid COVID-19-distressed 
families throughout the Central Coast.
  Joseph W. Heston has tirelessly served the central coast of 
California by providing model leadership and essential quality 
programming. I wish Joe all the best as he enjoys his retirement with 
his wife, Elizabeth Heston, and son, Joseph J. W. Heston. I ask that my 
colleagues join me in recognizing his years of service and 
congratulating him on his retirement.

                          ____________________