About Rick D'Amico
Rick D'Amico retired on August 1st of 2016 at the height of his popularity from the number one morning television news show in Phoenix, AZ. His Emmy Award winning Broadcasting career spanned over 50 years in radio and television and print. In January of 2016, Rick’s wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and Rick decided to retire and stay home and take care of her.
While serving in the United States Air Force , he landed his first radio job as a disc jockey in Albany, Georgia. Upon leaving the military he worked at a number of radio stations in Ashtabula, Ohio - Erie, PA - Battle Creek, Michigan - San Juan, Puerto Rico - and in Cleveland, Ohio at WHK-AM and became one of the pioneer radio personalities on WMMS-FM.
Rick is in two books about the beginning of Rock and Roll and Cleveland Radio. "Radio Daze, Stories From the Front in Cleveland's FM Air Wars" by Mike Olszewski and "Rock and Roll and the Cleveland Connection" by Deanna R. Adams.
Rick is also featured in the PBS Documentary “Radio Daze” as a pioneer in FM rock radio programming.
Rick advanced his career in radio in Michigan in management of several radio stations and part owner of one.
After 19 years in radio, Rick decided to try his hand at television, and became a TV Weather caster for NBC and CBS affiliates in Lansing, Michigan. Tired of Midwest winters, in 1987 Rick landed the job as TV Weatherman at KSAZ-TV in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rick completed his meteorological education from Mississippi State University and was recruited by CBS News as weatherman on "The CBS Morning News" and "CBS This Morning".
Because of his work on CBS, Rick was promoted to News Anchor at KSAZ in Phoenix. In addition to his anchoring duties, he served as Editor of Business and Economic News, reported live from the Los Angeles riots, interviewed President Ronald Reagan, followed President Bill Clinton to Los Alamos, New Mexico, anchored and reported live from New York City and "Ground Zero" in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. He also followed the Arizona Diamondbacks to Yankee Stadium for the World Series anchoring his morning show from the Fox News Channel.
For 19 years until his retirement, Rick coanchored, "Fox-10 Arizona Morning".
Rick also anchored The Fox-10 News at Noon.
Rick had numerous reports on CNN and the Fox News Channel.
Rick is an Emmy Award winner for his live coverage of breaking news of a hostage incident in Phoenix. Rick was awarded the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and he also is the recipient of two Associated Press Awards for excellence in News Anchoring.
Rick has helped raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his favorite charities, The American Lung Association, The Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Arizona and Foster Children of Pinal County, Arizona.
Rick was honored by his High School by being inducted into the Wickliffe High School Hall of Fame.
Rick and his wife Ruth were married in 1969 - 53 years of marriage. With four children, twin boys and two daughters, and one granddaughter.
Rick’s wife Ruth passed away on October 21, 2022 after suffering from Alzheimer’s/Lewybody dementia complicated by Covid-19.
Rick has authored two books. His first chronicling his 50 year career in Radio and Television Broadcasting, “It Just Wasn’t Perfect For Me”, and the 2nd about caring for his wife while she suffered from Alzheimer’s. It is called, “How Alzheimer’s Stole My Wife and Shattered Our Dreams.” It is available at Amazon.com.
Ruth and me on my last day in TV.
Rick’s speech receiving the Emmy Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Click here:
News coverage of Rick's retirement.
How Rick D'Amico from Fox 10 said goodbye
Rick D'Amico to retire from Channel 10 in Phoenix
TV personality Rick D'Amico, a fixture on Channel 10 (KSAZ) since the '80s, announced in the Fox newsroom on Wednesday, June 1, that he will retire from the station. His last day will be Aug. 1.
“This was an extremely difficult decision to make, because working here at Fox 10 has been the most exciting, rewarding and fun thing I’ve ever done in my career," D'Amico said in a statement. "Thirty years is a long time in television news, and I’ve certainly seen a lot of changes, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the most wonderful people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I probably won’t miss waking up early in the morning, but I certainly will miss the people."
D'Amico, who joined the station in 1987, established himself as one of the Valley's most personable and trustworthy personalities. His lighthearted banter with co-anchor Ron Hoon on the station's morning show is one of the trademarks of the program.
"Rick is truly one of a kind," said Doug Bannard, vice president and news director at KSAZ, said in a release. "He has been a key part of the Fox 10 family for nearly 30 years — the last 19 of which he co-hosted ‘Fox 10 Arizona Morning.’ He’s an amazing broadcaster who lights up the screen as well as the newsroom. We will miss Rick’s infectious smile, curiosity and incredible breadth of experience.”
D'Amico began his media career working as a disc jockey while serving in the United States Air Force. He eventually spent 19 years on radio, with gigs in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Rick D'Amico has been hosting the Channel 10 morning show for 16 years.
He moved to television and worked as a weatherman in Lansing, Mich. He came to Phoenix to do weather at Channel 10 before being promoted to news anchor. He moved to his current gig as one of the hosts of the station's "Fox 10 Arizona Morning" in 1997, when the program was launched. Hoon joined a few months later, making them one of the longest-running teams currently on morning TV, if not the longest.
D'Amico has won an Emmy and two Associated Press Awards. His interview subjects have included President Ronald Reagan and President Bill Clinton.
As for the future? D'Amico says he plans to take it easy.
Me and Ruth at the Emmy Awards.