Pete Kenworthy and Family Share Strong Allegiance to Wooster

Pete Kenworthy reported on the shootings at Viriginia Tech in April of 2007.

Whenever Pete Kenworthy’s family gets together, it’s like a mini college reunion. Kenworthy, a 1993 College of Wooster graduate, is the son of two Wooster alumni, the brother of another, and the husband of yet another, but the fact that all five have the same alma mater is more than just a coincidence.

Kenworthy’s parents, Robert and Judith, graduated from Wooster in 1964. When it came time for Pete to look at colleges, Ithaca and Syracuse were at the top of his list because he was interested in radio and television. “My parents did not put any pressure on me, but they suggested that I at least look at Wooster,” says Kenworthy, who as a kid dreamed of being a television sports anchor. “When I visited campus, I fell in love with the school. I was accepted at both Ithaca and Syracuse, but I declined and decided to attend Wooster instead.”

At about the same time, Kenworthy’s sister, Jenny, decided to transfer from Muhlenberg to Wooster. “She actually started the same time I did, which made things easier for all of us,” says Kenworthy. Jenny majored in religious studies and went on to Princeton, where she earned her Master of Divinity degree.

Pete earned his degree in English at Wooster. While there, he met Julie Evans, who was a year behind him. The two became very good friends, but did not begin dating until about a year after she had graduated. “We kept in touch, but that was about it,” he says. “Then one day we were having a conversation, and I said, ‘you know, we have a lot in common. Maybe we should think about dating.’” The relationship quickly gained momentum, and the two were married in 1997.

A year later, Pete completed his masters degree in TV/Radio at Southern Methodist University. Through that program, he was able to make connections in the Waco, Texas, area and was hired as a news reporter and then weekend sports anchor at KWTX-TV. He eventually rose to the position of sports director, a position he held from 2001-2003.

Pete loved his work, but he and Julie longed to be closer to family and friends, so the couple and newborn daughter Courtney relocated to Buffalo, where Pete became a reporter for the afternoon magazine show at WKBW-TV. After less than a year in that position, he became the station’s morning anchor. Then earlier this year, he learned of a position at WEWS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cleveland. Because Julie’s family lived in nearby Munroe Falls, Pete decided to apply for the position of Akron Bureau Chief, where he could report and also do some fill-in anchoring. “The opportunity in Cleveland was kind of a fluke,” he says. “I sent an e-mail to the station and was invited to meet with the managing editor. The hiring process usually takes weeks and sometimes months, but I was offered a position in 12 days, which is very unusual for television.”

At last, the Kenworthys felt like they were home. “I hope to never look for another job,” he says. “When you get to a place where you’re happy, you want to stay, and I am very happy here.”

Part of that happiness is a result of Pete’s proximity to his alma mater. “Wooster is a great place,” he says. “I learned about life and a lot about diversity while I was there, especially the importance of accepting everyone and treating everyone the same. It’s helped me in this business because you come in contact with many different kinds of people, and you can’t afford to be judgmental going into a story.”

Kenworthy also credits Wooster for helping him to improve his language skills. He even did some acting with the theatre department, which further enhanced his ability to communicate. During the past nine years, he has had an opportunity to cover major news stories around the world, including the death of the Pope and the deployment of Marines to Iraq. Since coming back to Ohio, he has covered several national stories, including the shootings at Virginia Tech and the murder of Jessie Davis.

“I really cherish the time I spent at Wooster,” he says. “You learn a lot more than you realize when you’re there. I also met a lot of good people, and I still keep in touch with many of them today.”