Pioneer Houston sportscaster reflects on career

After a career that spanned more than three decades covering multiple Super Bowls, World Series and Olympic games, sportscaster Dan Lovett retired to Northwest Houston in 2002, bringing his journey full circle.

In 1968, Lovett became one of the first members of the "Eyewitness News" team, along with Dave Ward and Ed Brandon on KTRK-TV Channel 13 in Houston. Lovett initially did weekend broadcasts. He got the main sportscaster job when the weekly sports anchor, Guy Savage, passed away.

"He died in between the 6 and 10 o'clock news one night, so they put me on as the number one guy, and I stayed there until 1974," Lovett said.

First hired to work as a newsman at KILT Radio, Lovett arrived in Houston in 1963. He was on assignment in South Vietnam for the chain of McLendon radio stations in 1965 as the youngest accredited war correspondent from the U.S. at age 24.

Although Lovett did not start his career as a sports reporter, the job was a natural fit for him, as he was an avid sports fan. He learned quickly that the role had its shares of ups and downs.

"At the beginning, I thought because you are on TV or on the radio that everyone likes you," said the former radio voice of the Houston Oilers. "Then I found out they don't, and I learned to accept that."

He left Houston for WABC-TV in New York City in 1974, replacing Frank Gifford who was going to Monday Night Football.

Lovett stayed in New York for 10 years before the bureau moved him to Washington D.C. where he spent another decade. ABC then assigned him to San Francisco where he covered the 49ers that won five Super Bowls while he was there.

Finishing his career in the City by the Bay, Lovett came back to his wife's hometown of Houston as a retiree.

He occasionally goes to Africa as a videographer on bow hunting expeditions.

"I never thought I would be involved with something like that and my friends are puzzled by it as well," Lovett said. "I have been with them on hunts for lions, buffalo and the next thing they want to get is an elephant."

He is also involved in Zambia through his church that is building an orphanage, clinic and school there.