Wendall J. Woodbury (June 20, 1942 – October 20, 2010) was an American television journalist and news anchor. He spent much of his career as a reporter for WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1968 until his retirement from broadcast news in 1992 as a feature reporter.[1] He was known for a series of segments called "Wendall's World" while at WGAL.[1] Woodbury was the first television anchor in the United States to report on the Three Mile Island accident as the story broke in 1979.[2]
Woodbury was born in Belfast, Maine, to Blaine and Nellie (née Jackson) Woodbury.[3] He graduated from Crosby High School in Belfast before enrolling in the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston, Massachusetts.[3]
Woodbury began his broadcast career at several Maine television stations. He initially worked at the Maine Hildreth Television Network before becoming an announcer at WAGM-TV in Presque Isle and WABI-TV in Bangor.[3]
Woodbury worked as a reporter, anchor and weatherman at WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for twenty-four years from 1968 until 1992.[1][3] Woodbury was the first television anchor in the United States to report on the Three Mile Island accident as the story broke in 1979.[2]
He was known for a series of feature pieces at WGAL called Wendall's World.[1] Woodbury also co-hosted a television show called Susquehanna People with Mary Haverstick and sometimes hosted a dance show called Dance Party, which was loosely based on American Bandstand.[2] He retired from WGAL in 1992 as a features reporter.[1][2]
Woodbury owned WJW Video Productions, headquartered in Manheim, Pennsylvania, from 1992 until his death in 2010.[3] He wrote, produced, edited and appeared in national and local television commercials and corporate videos.[2]
Woodbury died from lymphoma at Hospice of Lancaster County in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 2010, aged 68.[1] His funeral was held at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster.[3] Woodbury and his wife of 48 years, Faith (née Lewis), were residents of Penn Township, Pennsylvania, located near Manheim.[2][3] He was survived by his wife, daughter, grand-daughter, and two brothers.[3]