Dave Ward & Friends

John W. Mecom Jr and Dave went so deep last week, we had to do a 2nd broadcast. As we learned last week, Mecom's expertise, Houstonian knowledge and pride, and love of sports, is near and dear to Dave's heart. There's more business talk, NFL, and NASCAR. From the New Orleans Saints to Mecom Racing, with names like Penske, Foyt, and Stewart. These are two Houston experts talking their favorite interests, and if you're a fan of Dave Ward, or major sporting events, these two are incredibly knowledgeable.

Get your dose of Houston business acumen this week. Not only is John W. Mecom Jr. the chairman of his father's John W. Mecom company, but John also was the youngest owner in the NFL in 1967 when he purchased the New Orleans Saints. Dave will ask about Mecom Racing that successfully competed throughout the U.S. with such drivers as Roger Penske, Pedro Rodriguez, AJ Foyt and Jackie Stewart.Mecom's expertise, Houstonian knowledge and pride, and love of sports, is near and dear to Dave's heart. And you'll learn why when you listen.

Last week you heard what happens when two legendary, local Houston broadcasters get together with a combined on-air experience of almost 100 years.In this episode, Dave continues reminiscing with the former “Good Morning Houston” host, Don Nelson. All Houston households at one point likely woke up with Don Nelson weekdays on channel 13's “Good Morning Houston” (with Jan Glenn and Lisa Trapani) and went to bed with Dave on “Eyewitness News at 10pm.” Hear more about their storied careers and newsroom shenanigans.

In this episode, Dave is joined by former “Good Morning Houston” host, Don Nelson. It's hard to believe that Dave started as evening anchor in 1968, but it's also hard to believe Don Nelson was right behind him at ABC-13, starting in 1975. We'll hear how Don ended up in Houston, on the morning show, and how he was the the driving force of morning TV in Houston.

For all you sports history buffs, on this episode of Dave Ward & Friends Season 2, Dave talks with Calvin Murphy and Bill Worrell about their long history with the Houston Rockets and broadcasting Houston sports. The Rockets and the Houston City Council recently honored Bill Worrell with “Bill Worrell Day,” on Jan. 7, 2022. The three of them discuss their favorite moments announcing and playing basketball. Hear how they see the NBA has evolved, changed, and developed over the years — for better and worse!

In this episode, Dave is joined by Patrick Henry, owner of Patrick Henry Creative Promotions. Dave and Patrick share their mutual love for trains and Patrick's private rail cars. They reminisce about how they met and some of their favorite memories riding throughout the country — not to mention some of the craziness that can happen when traveling by train!

In honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, this week's episode features bestselling author and English historian, Charles Spencer.Don't miss this special episode discussing his latest bestseller, “The White Ship” - a true tale more fascinating than any fiction.

This episode stands alone as Dave's final visit and tribute to his friend, Mickey Gilley.This is not an interview, it's a conversation between two friends remembering good times, life, and mortality in their final visit together. Rest In Peace, Mickey - we love you always. Mickey Gilley, 1936-2022

This week on "Dave Ward and Friends" we pay special tribute to our beloved Mickey Gilley.In our final visit, we discuss Mickey's long career as a country music singer and start with Conway Twitty, then his world famous honkey tonk “Gilley's” and its role in "Urban Cowboy”, the movie that put Houston and country music on the world stage.

We had so much fun with last week's favorite, Shara Fryer, she's back for Pt II. On this week's episode of Dave Ward and Friends, Dave and Shara reminisce about the small towns they came from and how they ended up as co-anchors of the number #1 newscast in America! Shara compares her studio life now as a popular radio personality to her time with Dave as a journalist.

It's the broadcast reunion Houston has been waiting for almost two decades! This week's episode has Dave reunited with his long-time co-anchor, Shara Fryer. Shara shares about how she ended up in Houston next to Dave on the News for 30 years. They discuss the history of the channel, fellow newscast members, including Marvin Zindler, and major events they covered in and around Houston.

Gene Kranz, who was portrayed by Ed Harris in the Oscar-winning movie Apollo 13, — also! earned a SAG and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role— sits down with Dave on Dave Ward & Friends. They talk about how the US Space Program launched both their careers, from the start of the Mercury rockets, to the famed Apollo 13 and beyond for Gene. Dave talks about covering all the launches, starting in radio from the very beginning of the rocket programs to the discontinuation of the Space Shuttle in 2011. (Dave Ward is the only journalist in the world to have covered all NASA space launches)

Dave catches up with retired NFL coach Wade Phillips, a Super Bowl winner and record holder for leading the most teams as Head Coach in NFL history. Together they reminisce about their time with the Houston Oilers, when Wade's legendary father Bum Phillips was the head coach and Dave was on the broadcast team, and the current state of Houston football.You'll never guess what is revealed about the relationship with historic rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and other behind the scenes stories of those iconic Luv Ya Blue Days.

Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive and a fifth generation Houstonian, pays Dave a visit to talk about his deep Houston roots and Sonic Automotive's dedication to the Houston community. This episode not only showcases Jeff's devotion to his company, their guests, and the city of Houston, but also Sonic Automotive's charitable acts such as donating over $2 million to local charities and the 11,000 service hours clocked to help Houston through its most difficult times. Mr. Dyke mays a surprise announcement - and grand gesture to Dave and his wife Laura - in the episode that you won't want to miss.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of A.J. Foyt's first Indy 500 win on May 30th, Dave and A.J. discuss Foyt's racing career, life, and their enduring friendship.A Houston native, A.J. talks about how he first got into racing, and all the victories and injuries he experienced during his time on the tracks. This episode highlights how A.J., who Dave describes as “the greatest race car driver ever”, came to become the first driver to win the Indy 500 four times, as well as myriad titles in numerous genres of motorsports.

In one of the most interesting episodes yet, Dave sits down with Brian Krause who started his career with legendary well control pioneer, Red Adair, once immortalized on screen by John Wayne in the major motion picture, Hellfighters. Brian and Dave reminisce about Red and some of the most tragic oil well disasters they were called in to fight with their world-renowned savoir-faire and true grit. These are classic Texas stories with true legends of the oil boom years that made Houston what it is today.

In a surprise tribute, Rudy Tomjanovich is honored by his former players ahead of his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Watch Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Mario Elie, Vernon Maxwell and Matt Bullard join Dave as they recall stories of the championship teams of the legendary Houston Rockets coach (and player) Rudy T. Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion.

SportsRadio 610 KILT morning host Sean Pendergast, a self-described "radio junkie," listened obsessively to sports radio stations, even winning "best show caller" awards, but didn't actually work in broadcasting. After a successful sales career, he changed that. In his late 30s, Pendergast jumped into sports radio and hasn't looked back. In Episode 8 of “Dave Ward & Friends” Dave and Sean talk the highs and lows of Houston sports.

This week's "Dave Ward & Friends" is out of this world as Dave interviews NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and his wife, Amiko, who also works for the space agency. After spending a year on the International Space Station, Scott discusses life without gravity and what's harder to do in weightlessness. Plus, Scott talks about the physical effects after returning and what re-entry is like on a Russian Soyuz space capsule! And he even answers the question: do cell phones work on the ISS!

In a revealing, tearful, interview on Dave Ward & Friends, President George H.W. Bush's son, Neil, and grandson Pierce, talk about growing up in the famous family and national spotlight from the highs to the lows. Americans, from both sides of the aisle, will enjoy rarely heard stories about our nation's 41st President and First Lady Barbara Bush. Plus, Dave talks about his personal relationship with the senior Bush.

Dave reunites with legendary channel 13 Houston children's host KiTiRiK (Bunny Orsak). Adults of today, who grew up watching the famous character in the 1960s and 1970s dressed as a black cat, still cannot get enough of the Houston TV star!Listen as the two longtime friends discuss the behind the scenes of the legendary show and KTRK!

In the fifth episode of Dave Ward & Friends, baseball legend Roger Clemens “The Rocket” discusses everything from his record-breaking collegiate and major league careers, to his childhood move to Texas and the takeaways from his upbringing that drove him to become the only pitcher in history to win 7 Cy Young Awards, record over 350 wins and strikeout over 4,500 batters. Roger talks about his love for history and the poem his mother wrote him about Fenway Park when he was drafted by the Red Sox and pitching an exhibition game at the Astrodome. He lights up talking about playing in the same parks as heroes Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, and DiMaggio, to name a few, but ever the competitor, he still throws extra against his childhood hero, Reggie Jackson.

In the fourth episode of Dave Ward & Friends, Astros legends Larry Dierker and Jeff Bagwell discuss their respective playing, coaching and broadcasting careers, as well as what it was like to play for, and coach, the other.The two discuss what it was like playing in the Astrodome, moving to Minute Maid Park and even the history of Houston and how it's changed since they both came here as rookies and what made them stay.

In the third episode of "Dave Ward & Friends", Dave recollects meeting Steve at K-NUZ. Steve tells the story of teaming-up with Elvis Presley. The Tyrell name gets its backstory. Tune in for all that and more.Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell is truly a renaissance man. In over four decades in the music business, he has achieved great success as an artist, producer, songwriter, music supervisor, and performer.

In the second episode of "Dave Ward & Friends", the legendary Houston TV anchor sits down with his friend and Houston Astros Hall of Fame first baseman, Jeff Bagwell. The episode starts with Dave's personal revelation about his heart attack and the 'ride-or-die' friend who got him out of bed and coached him to his first lap down the hall since his brush with death, Jeff Bagwell.Jeff talks about what he thought of Houston before arriving as a young rookie from Boston, and how his rookie career developed with teammates along the way. The two remember the Houston Astrodome and Dave asks how Bagwell liked playing there.Dave remembers how Jeff predicted to him that the 2017 team would win the franchise's first World Series, and Jeff reveals that team's distinguishing characteristics that led him to that prediction. Jeff also talks about the team's current skipper, Dusty Baker, his longtime teammate, the great Craig Biggio, and his Hall of Fame induction.

In the inaugural episode of "Dave Ward & Friends," the legendary Houston TV anchor sits down with Houston Oilers quarterback great Dan Pastorini. Number 7 talks about the iconic "Luv Ya Blue" era and how Houston sports fans will never forget that special time. And while the Oilers are a team with no team connection today, the memories live on forever.Pastorini reminisces about his natural throwing arm as a young man and why he turned down a draft offer with the New York Mets which could have had him in the rotation with a few Hall of Famers, one being a guy from Alvin named Nolan.Plus, the two long-time friends trade a ton of stories about the Oilers, from the tough period in the early 1970s, to how Coach Bum Phillips changed everything for the team.Oh, and wait till you hear what "Charlie's Angels" star Farrah Fawcett wrote to Pastorini in lipstick on a mirror!Not only was Dave a fan of the former Houston NFL team, but the longtime television news anchor also worked for the Houston Oilers radio crew from 1972 to 1980. The duo talk about their friendship with trailblazing Houston sports journalist Anita Martini.