After more than three decades on the airwaves, 18 of them working at Toledo stations, newscaster Bill Hormann announced his retirement during his 11pm broadcast on Sunday, June 30. The primary reasons for his departure were probably asleep in their beds at home as he said his final farewells: his twin seven-year-old sons, Connor and Ryan.
“I had been doing this for 33 years, and the station changed my schedule so that I was working nightside reporting and working weekends as the news anchor,” Hormann said in an interview. “During the week, I’d see my kids for literally 45 minutes a day, then on the weekends, when they were off of school all day, I was working afternoons and nights.
“So over a week’s period, I was spending about 15, 17 hours with them. And that just was not something I wanted to do,” he said. “I thought, I’ve given my life to my television career. Now it’s time to give my life to my kids.”
20 years in Toledo
Hormann, 57, started broadcasting in Toledo on November 1, 2000, working as an anchor on WTOL for two years before jumping to WTVG. A native of Washington D.C., Hormann said the biggest change he saw during his lengthy broadcasting career came with the rise of the internet.
“We’re able to get to our viewers, readers, much faster now— almost instantaneously,” he said. “That comes with some problems, of course. Sometimes the information you’re getting firsthand is not 100% accurate. There’s always that drive to beat the competition to a story, so you try to be as accurate as you can.”
Toledo is home
The changes in reporting were paralleled by the changes in the community he reported on, Hormann said. Toledo has changed since he first came to the city, particularly the revitalization of the downtown area.
“When I had my first interview down here, in 2000, we drove through the warehouse district and there was nothing down there. There wasn’t even a ballpark yet,” Hormann said. “And now look at the transformation. I think that’s really exciting, and honestly, that’s why we decided that we’re going to make Toledo our home.”
Hormann has worked as a realtor with ReMax Preferred Associates for the past five years, a career he will continue now that he’s hung up his microphone. But no matter what, Hormann said, his focus will be on his family.
“I missed so much. Easter egg hunts. Trips to the zoo,” he said. “Sunday afternoon, watching the football game with them. Those are things I couldn’t do before that I can now devote more time to. This is their time, not my time.”
I have always wanted to… Be the press secretary for the president of the United States.
What is your pet peeve? Gosh, there are so many… I guess, people who are cruel to others. Bullies.
What is something that most people don’t know about you? When I was in my teens— 15, 16 years old— I was seriously on the track to becoming a professional bowler. That would have been the mid-1970s.
What are the words you live by? From Dr. Seuss: ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’
What advice would you give to the younger you? Don’t second guess yourself.
Who is someone you’d like to meet? Fredrick Douglass and Ronald Reagan.
What inspires you now? My kids. Making sure they are happy, and safe and healthy.
Favorite movie? Every year, I used to watch the movie ‘Patton.’ And I love that movie. But perhaps the movie I like the most is ‘All the President’s Men.’
Who do you most admire? People who are willing to put their lives on the line, selflessly, for others.
Bonus Facts:
What do you admire in people? Honesty.
What’s your favorite food? Maryland steamed crabs!
