East County TV anchor is star of Channel 6’s 60th birthday

XETV-TV/San Diego 6 is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Channel 6 first appeared on the local airways on April 29, 1953.

So, the station is planning a special telecast of its morning news show, “Wake Up San Diego,” this Monday, April 29.

Alpine resident Marc Bailey, along with other Channel 6 on-air personalities, including co-anchor Lynda Martin, weathercaster Kimi Evans, reporter Kristen Mosteller and field reporter Ruben Galvan, will be outfitted in 1950s fashions. One of the show’s segments will air in black and white. City Council President Todd Gloria and County Board of Supervisor Chairman Greg Cox are scheduled to appear in-studio to proclaim April 29 as “Channel 6 Day.”

Bailey also will be sporting Walter Cronkite-style big black frame eyeglasses. Hair styling and make-up for the on-air talent will be provided by Avia Salon and Day Spa at Grossmont Center in La Mesa.

Bailey is one of four Channel 6 news anchors who are San Diego natives. Other natives include Heather Myers, Courtney Dwyer and Jeff Powers.

Bailey grew up in the East County. “My first house my parents bought was on Carlsbad Street in Spring Valley,” Bailey said. “It was a new home. The cost was $12,500.”

He attended Rancho Elementary School in Spring Valley and Lemon Avenue Elementary School in La Mesa.

While growing up and watching the family’s black-and-white TV, Bailey realized he wanted to be a broadcaster. But, before pursuing that dream, he served for three-and-a-half years as a San Diego Police Department officer, an experience that has been a valuable asset as a news reporter. After serving with the SDPD, Bailey’s broadcasting career started locally at KOGO radio.

He honed his television skills on the national cable networks E! Entertainment Television, HBO and CNN. Before arriving at San Diego 6 in June 2002, Bailey was the lead anchor at KNXV-TV in Phoenix and morning anchor in at WAGA-TV in Atlanta.

XETV was the second TV station to serve San Diego. After KFMB-TV went on the air in 1949, XETV-TV arrived on April 1953, followed by KGTV-TV (then KFSD) in September 1953. “If you grew up in San Diego, then you grew up with Channel 6,” said Chuck Dunning, Channel 6 VP and GM.

Dunning is inviting former employees to a 60th anniversary party and employee reunion from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Channel 6 studios, 8253 Ronson Road, San Diego. Dunning says, “If you worked here or knew someone who worked here, come on back, bring the family, take a tour and enjoy music, food, drinks and memories. This is a very special time for us. We want to share this milestone with our past and current employees.”