[Sport] FOX 26 Houston Sports Director Mark Berman is retiring after 43 years

[NANO]

Another longtime member of the FOX 26 Houston news team is leaving the station in June. Mark Berman, sports director of the channel, took to Twitter on Friday to announce that after 43 years on the job (37 spent at FOX 26), he is retiring. His last night on FOX 26 News at Nine will be on June 12. 

"Growing up in my hometown of Hempstead I dreamed of being a sportscaster on television in Houston," Berman wrote in a statement. "FOX 26 helped make that dream become 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's been to cover sports in the great city of Houston and to work at FOX 26, a great Houston television station." 

A Houston native, Berman grew up in Hempstead and graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications. Before his time at 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. He became weekend sports anchor/reporter at FOX 26 in 1986 and in 1988 became the station;s sports director, a position he has held since that time. 

Berman's announcement comes just days after FOX 26 Houston's Morning Show and FOX 26 News at Noon anchor Jose Griñan announced he too is retiring at the end of June after 30 years at the station. While on the air Tuesday, Griñan said he is planning to work with non-profit organizations in the community. 

"Thirty years in one place has really made a big mark on me because half of my life has basically been spent here at the station with you by my side," Griñan told co-anchor Melissa Wilson. "I just wanted to say thank you to all of the employees here at FOX 26 who have been very heartwarming and all the best of luck as well to all of those in the community who have supported me over the past 30 years."

Mark Berman, who has been a fixture on the Houston sports scene for nearly 40 years, is retiring in June.

Fittingly, the Fox 26 sports director and anchor broke the news on Twitter, where he often breaks Houston sports news.

"What a privilege it's been to cover sports in the great city of Houston and to work at Fox 26, a great Houston television station," Berman tweeted.

Berman's final day will be June 12, which will be his 37th anniversary at the station where he started on June 12, 1986.

Berman, who has been in the business for 43 years, was born in Houston, grew up in Hempstead and graduated from the University of Houston. Before landing the job at Fox 26, he worked as a weekend anchor and reporter at KOSA-TV in Midland-Odessa and as the sports director at KIKK radio.

That's two big losses this week for Fox 26. Morning anchor Jose Griñan, who has been at the station for 30 years, announced his retirement Monday. His last day also will be in June.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/general/article/mark-berman-fox-26-retired-houston-sports-anchor-18096327.php