Latino anchor team named in Texas

Angel San Juan and weathercaster Rocío Garza are the new anchors on the NBC affiliate's "The Morning News." The program airs 5:30 to 7 a.m. weekdays.

Angel left the Beaumont CBS station, where he was reporter. Rocío comes from the Univision affiliate in Laredo, where she worked as weather anchor for two years.

They replace news anchor Rusty Surette and weathercaster Shelley Sink, who left for other opportunities.

Great to see management is realizing the importance of giving Latinos leading TV roles in markets where they reflect the audience.

You can read more about the switch and the new anchors in today's story by Robert Lopez.

Remembering Rich

Memories of Rich evoked many tears, but some laughter as well during a service in his honor. The First Unitarian Church in San Jose was crowded, with family, friends and colleagues who came to share feelings, thoughts and anecdotes about the raging USC fan. There were many people who flew in just to say a final good-bye to Rich.

Karl Kahler, a fellow USC grad and longtime Mercury News colleague led the memorial service. Rich's brother-in-law, George Dalke and his high school friend Steve Norvell were the first to speak. Among those who spoke were two of Rich's former bosses - Jerry Ceppos and David Yarnold, who flew in from New York. They shared some heart-warming stories of Rich, which gave us another glimpse of what a wonderful man he was.

Other out of towners who came to pay their respects: from Chicago, Bryan Monroe, former Mercury News and Knight Ridder executive and current NABJ president and from Los Angeles, Cecilia Alvear, former NAHJ president and ex-NBC network producer. Noticeably absent: Susan Goldberg, who until a month ago was his boss.

Throughout the service he was remembered as a dedicated employee who truly loved his job and as a generous and warm soul. For those of us who didn't know him outside of work, we learned about his saxophone playing abilities, his love for travel and his absolute passion for USC, his alma mater.

Mercury News photographer and longtime friend Jim Gensheimer produced an incredibly moving photo slideshow of happy moments in Rich's life, starting with a picture of him as a baby, his evolution throughout the years, his wedding to Janet, moments with friends, ending with the photo of a laid-back Rich by the ocean... the very same one on the cover of the memorial service program.

The USC fight song played at the end, as a tribute to Rich.

After the service was over, there were many hugs and lingering questions of why Rich is no longer with us. Seeing how so many people were touched by Rich, I wonder... did he know just how much we all appreciated him? I hope he did. If not, this is the time to think about those we love and respect and let them always know how much they mean to us, before it's too late.

Disappointing mistake

There was much excitement and praise for Marti Buscaglia, when it was announced that the publisher of the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune had landed the same job at the Orange County Register in early June. A Latina would become the top decision-maker at a big California daily. But today, it all had to be taken back. She apparently didn't tell the whole truth about her educational background and had to quit the new job before she even started.

Although she apologizes and takes full responsibility for what happened in an article published today, it's amazing that a woman with 30 years in the business had never been previously questioned about her credentials. The saddest thing about it is that she had built a respected career and now who knows where she'll go next.

What's most disappointing is a missed opportunity for diversity to reach the top management levels of a major newspaper.

a terrible loss

Many of my colleagues and friends who knew Rich Ramirez are still in a state of shock over his death. Many of us question what could've happened, if there was any way we could've foreseen what was to come and if we could've prevented it. While we have many unanswered questions and doubts, we will always remember him as an outstanding individual, who always went the extra mile to help those who reached out to him. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, June 28, described as a celebration of his life. People are flying in from different parts of the country to remember him and honor his memory. Without a doubt, it will be a very emotional service.