WAKA Action 8 News’ General Manager retires after 51 years at the station
It is a bittersweet moment for us here at Action 8 News. Vice President and General Manager Mark Smith – the man who helped guide and shape WAKA for the past 51 years – is retiring to begin a new chapter in his life.
Mark Smith’s story is one of dedication and an enduring commitment to a profession that became his life’s work. Marks connection to television began long before he took his first steps inside a studio. His father had laid the foundation for what would become a family business when he joined WSLA in Selma back in 1960. At just 17 years old, on November 3, 1973, Mark started at WSLA the same station his father had worked at, when it was still a modest operation with a single camera setup and a handful of employees. Mark’s first role was as a camera operator, and he quickly expanded his skill set, working in production and eventually becoming a master control operator.
Even while pursuing a degree in Communications as a student at the University of Alabama Huntsville, he returned to Selma on weekends to fill in at WSLA. His time at WAAY in Huntsville from 1979 to 1984 further honed his skills, preparing him for the next chapter in his career. In 1984, Mark made a pivotal decision to return to Selma full-time, just as the FCC award WSLA a tall tower that would extend it reach to cover the Montgomery area. On October 1, 1984, he assumed the role of operations manager and one of his first tasks was to oversee a significant expansion quadrupling the station’s staff as they transitioned to a 24 hour operation and rebranded as WAKA in 1985. That summer Bahakel Communications of Charlotte, North Carolina purchased the station, and with that acquisition came a new set of challenges. The FCC required Bahakel to liquidate Channel 32, and Mark was at the forefront of planning and constructing new facilities on the Eastern Boulevard in Montgomery. His leadership was instrumental in launching a newscast in Montgomery in February 1986. By 1991, Mark’s hard work and dedication earned him a promotion to Station Manager. He had grown with the station, evolving from a wide-eyed teenager eager to learn, to a season leader guiding a major broadcasting hub through the rapid changes of the industry.
His fascination with technology even extended to his hobbies like collecting antique fans. He showed me part of his collection for a news story as part of WAKA’s Positively Alabama series in 2005. Since some of the fans were more than 100 years old, Smith became an expert at fixing them. “You tear them apart, you look inside, and you just wonder about the people who put these things together. You see the care and great detail of the slightest and simplest issues,” said Smith.
In 2011, Mark was entrusted with overseeing a significant new project – the construction of a high facility at the WNCF property. This project was part of a local marketing agreement with WNCF and the purchase of WBMM and it was a testament to the trust Bahakel had in Mark’s abilities. He managed the project with the same dedication and precision that has defined his entire career. Mark says, “They’ll be just a large wall of monitors there. It’ll be very impressive, very futuristic the whole building. Everything is brand new. It’s millions of dollars and investment in the community, and it’ll be the most advanced set up in the state.”
Nearly a decade later, on October 2, 2020, Mark was named general manager and vice president of the station – a culmination of nearly 5 decades of tireless work. On November 3, 2023 he celebrated his 50th anniversary with the company – a milestone that few ever reach. Now as Mark Smith retires in September, he leaves behind not just a station but a legacy – a testament to the power of passion, hard work and a deep connection to his roots. He will be missed here at the station, especially since he always had something funny or light hearted to say to lift the mood. We wish him all the best in retirement!
