[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DON SHELBY

 Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to one of 
our Nation's finest local newsmen and a Minnesota legend, Don Shelby, 
who is retiring after 32 years of service as a pioneering anchor, 
broadcaster, and reporter for WCCO in the Twin Cities.
  A native of Royerton, IN, Don first arrived in Minnesota in 1978. But 
for those of us who tuned into him every night for our news, it is as 
if he has always been one of us.
  When he first assumed lead anchor duties for the 10 p.m. newscast, 
Don had the tall task of replacing another Minnesota institution, Dave 
Moore, who had anchored the WCCO news desk for nearly 50 years. But 
Don's passion for bringing Minnesotans the stories that traditionally 
went unreported quickly made him a fixture on our television sets and 
in our hearts.
  Don never forgot his roots as an investigative journalist. And he has 
never been one to just sit at the anchor desk and read the news.
  Don is an intrepid reporter who will go to the ends of the Earth to 
bring his story home. Whether it was trekking to the Arctic with Will 
Steger, walking the beaches of Prince William Sound to expose the 
lasting damages caused by the Exxon Valdez oilspill, or traveling to 
Iraq to document the unprecedented service of our Minnesota National 
Guard troops, Don has brought the world home to living rooms across 
Minnesota.
  Don's professional compass has guided him to what is important and 
away from the temptations of tabloid journalism and the ``if it bleeds, 
it leads'' sensationalism that too often dominate our news cycles 
today.
  Minnesotans have benefited from Don Shelby's spirit of public service 
and commitment to journalistic values. For Don, it is never just about 
reading the headlines--it is about helping inform his viewers about the 
world around them.
  Just one example of this was his trailblazing ``Project Energy'' 
series--with accessible, informative news reports on our energy future, 
including renewable energy, climate change, conservation, 
transportation alternatives, and much more. In short, Don represents 
public service journalism at its best.
  Of course, it isn't just reporting that drives Don. There is also his 
ever-expanding list of hobbies, from mountain climbing, to bass 
fishing, to organic gardening, to playing guitar, and on and on. Don's 
intellectual curiosity knows no bounds.
  For more than three decades, Minnesotans have turned to Don Shelby 
because they have trusted his experience and honesty.
  While he has never been elected to public office, it is fair to say 
that he has become one of Minnesota's senior statesmen. And he became 
one by simply asking the important questions and telling the truth--
with compassion, decency, and dignity.
  So when Don signs off from his final broadcast this month, we will 
miss him dearly, but we can take comfort in knowing that our State is a 
better place because of his work.

                          ____________________