GeneralLast Updated on 1 month by General
Walt Gray is a respected anchor at ABC10 in Sacramento, California, known for his expertise in hard news reporting. With a career spanning 25 years in Northern California TV news, he has covered a wide range of major stories, building an extensive network of contacts in the region. Walt’s philanthropic efforts shine through his charity motorcycle ride, which has raised over $550,000 for children’s charities in its 11 years of existence. He’s dedicated to supporting Make-a-Wish kids through this initiative.
Walt’s career journey in Sacramento began at KCRA in 1988, where he served as the Sports Director for five and a half years. In 1993, he transitioned to the role of morning/noon news anchor. His rise through the ranks continued, and he became Sacramento’s dominant morning news anchor, winning “Best Morning TV Anchor” in Sacramento Magazine a remarkable eight consecutive times. In 2009, he took on the role of an evening anchor, often covering multiple newscasts in a day to advance his career.
In 2012, Walt briefly left television to explore a career in local radio as a morning talk show host. However, he returned to ABC10, the same station where his wife and Chief Meteorologist, Monica Woods, has been working since 2001.
The Gray family has a strong journalism background. Walt’s father, Walt Gray, Sr., is a former newspaper reporter for the Providence Journal and served as a two-time Rhode Island State Senator and Press Secretary to the Governor. His parents, Mary and Walt Sr., co-founded the “East Providence Post” newspaper in 1955, which remains in publication today. Walt’s brother, Tim, had a career as a TV sportscaster in Orlando and Boston.
Walt initiated his career in radio news at WERI-AM/FM in Westerly, Rhode Island, and later transitioned to television roles at WMGT-TV in Macon, Georgia, WINK-TV in Ft. Myers, Florida, and WCIX (now WFOR-TV) in Miami before making his way to Sacramento in 1988. He achieved an Emmy Award for “specialized news reporting” in 2000.
Walt is not only a talented news anchor but has also provided live play-by-play telecasts for various sports teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, World League of American Football, and the Miami Dolphins. He has also covered the local teams Sac State and UC Davis on Comcast SportsNet.
Among the notable stories he’s covered, the 2011 Phillip Garrido trial in Placerville stands out as one of the most significant. Garrido was convicted of abducting Jaycee Dugard 18 years earlier, and Walt’s involvement in the case, including exclusive correspondence with Garrido, garnered national attention.
Walt’s personal life is equally fulfilling. He married ABC10 Chief Meteorologist Monica Woods in 2000, and they have three children: Abby, Kelly, and Joseph. The family resides near the ABC10 studio, further cementing their connection to the community.