Rader Steps Away after Long, Distinguished Career at WTHR

Kevin Rader
Photo: WTHR

A legend of the Indy airwaves is retiring.

Kevin Rader, a longtime friendly face at WTHR, is stepping away after a 30-year run as one of the top political reporters in Indiana. He is the dean of TV political reporting in this city.

Landing in Indianapolis in 1990, Rader became the political reporter for the station, as he describes it, pretty much because no one else wanted it. He writes in his retirement piece, "I was the only one who wanted the beat. No one wanted to get tied up at the Statehouse, but I did."

Rader took that opportunity and has run with it. He's covered, as he states in his piece, political conventions, local politicians, political icons and national tragedies. I say that he's done it with distinction, class, professionalism and a heart that comes through in everything he does.

Beyond his reporting on politics and national events, I'll remember Rader's excellent "Only in Indiana" features. He has a gift for storytelling, and it comes through in these tremendous pieces bringing ordinary Hoosiers the recognition they deserve. The segment compares favorably with legendary Indy news icons like Fred Heckman's "My Town Indy" pieces or Ray Rice's "Indiana's Own" segments. Reporters don't last for 30 years on TV in a market unless they love it and unless they are good. Rader talks about his love for our city in his piece and that also comes through in his reports.

When I first began to care about politics, Indy had three of the finest reporters on the beat that you could find. At WRTV, you had Norman Cox, who retired in 2013 after some 37 years on the job. WISH had Jim Shella who came to our screens in 1982 and retired in 2016. Now, Rader steps away after 30 years of reporting. Three unmatched reporters whose institutional knowledge of the ins and outs of all the major politicking around here cannot be downloaded onto someone's laptop.

Rader, who I never have met, has a reputation of being one of the nicest and most genuine people in this market, and that comes from multiple people that I have met who know him. On a personal note, I have always been a fan of his reporting. His integrity, credentials and professionalism are unquestioned.

Congratulations, Mr. Kevin Rader. You will be missed, and your retirement leaves big shoes to fill for your potential replacement. As a citizen of Indianapolis and as a political observer in this city, I know I'll miss your reports and journalistic excellence.