Don Harris is the Emmy award-winning weekday Sports Anchor and Sports Director for News 4 WOAI. Harris celebrated his 20th anniversary with the station in 2009. He was most recently honored in October of 2009 with an Emmy award for Best Sports Anchor. It was his second Emmy award in two years. In 2008 he won the Award for Best Sports Story for his profile of the family of the late Mike Coolbaugh.
In 2009 he was also presented with the prestigious Edna McGaffey Media Excellence Award by the San Antonio Express-News and the local chapter of Amercian Women in Communications for his work on the air and in the community.
In 1998 Harris started the Don Harris Golf Classic, a golf tournament benefiting the Arthritis Foundation and
The Family Service Association. Many top local sports celebrities have taken part helping to raise over a half-a-million dollars for local children. This year the tournament generated a record donation to the Family Service Association.
Harris also serves on the board of the Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation and San Antonio Sports. Both are actively involved in improving the lives of children in San Antonio.
Harris works closely with two other local charities. He is on the advisory board of the
Miracle League Of San Antonio and of Slam Dunk for Life.
In April of 2008 he was honored by the Texas A.P. Broadcasters for Best Sportscast and Best Sports Story. The News 4 WOAI Sports department was also honored in the TV Special category for their "Race For The Rings" Spurs Special.
In 2005 he was honored by the Texas A.P. Broadcasters for Best Editorial/Commentary for his "Don's Extra Point." It was the third-straight year he won in that category. He also won Best Sports Story in 2005 and his sports anchoring has been recognized with four Emmy nominations.
Harris has covered many major sporting events during his 20 years at News 4 WOAI, including Super Bowls, Final Fours and four Spurs World Championships. News 4 WOAI's Race for the Rings (Spurs pregame and postgame shows) were among the highest rated shows in San Antonio television history.
In 2000, Don launched "Sports Sunday" - a unique version of a weekly sports show that climbed to the top of the local ratings.
Harris made broadcasting history in late 2001 when he became the first and only broadcaster to host a live radio sports talk show and anchor a live television sportscast - simultaneously!
In December 2002, Don was named as one of the San Antonio Business Journal's "40 Under Forty" rising stars in the local community. In 2005 he was named "Best Talk Radio host" by the San Antonio Current readers poll.
Harris is married to wife Julie, who, like Don, attended San Antonio's Churchill High School and the University of North Texas. They have two sons, Landry and Grant. When not working, he enjoys basketball and spending time with his family.
Email: DonHarris@woaitv.com
