NEW HARMONY, Ind. — Kae Don Shoultz, 70, died on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Don had an extensive career in radio and television news, spanning more than 40 years. He began as a DJ on radio in Mount Vernon, Ind., while in college. After graduating from Indiana University in 1960 with a major in journalism, Don began his first job as a weekend anchorman in Paducah, Ky. In 1963, he became the weekend anchorman and writer for both the television and radio station sides of WHAS in Louisville, Ky. In 1966, Don became the evening news anchor at WTVW-Channel 7 in Evansville. From there, he was promoted to News Producer in 1968 at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. He continued in news producing at KDKA, Pittsburgh in 1970. In both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, he continued some on-air anchoring and reporting in addition to his position as News Producer. In 1973, Don became the News Producer at KYW in Philadelphia, Pa. He moved to the position of News Director in Little Rock, Ark., in 1979. In 1980, he was the News Director in Columbus, Ohio. Don became a Professor of Broadcasting and Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in 1982. He remained there over 10 years, while doing free-lance work, on off-semesters at CNN in Atlanta, Ga. Eventually he left teaching and returned full time to the news business at CNN Headline News. He retired from there in 2004 as Senior Editor.
Don was a member of the distinguished Singing Hoosiers while at IU, a member of RTNDA (Radio Television News Directors Association), a Mason, a Kentucky Colonel, and a life-long Episcopalian. After his retirement, Don returned to his hometown of New Harmony, Ind., where he was very active in the community. He was the Zoning Administrator for the town of New Harmony, a member of the New Harmony Parks Board, a member of Kiwanis, and also served as a docent at the Rapp/Owen Granary. Don was also a distinguished member of the ROMEO club in New Harmony (Retired Old Men Eating Out).
Surviving Don are his 2 daughters, Tara S. Markham and her husband, Ken, of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Gretchen S. Hood and husband, Jeff, of Rome, Italy; 1 granddaughter, Madison Markham; 5 grandsons, Tyler, Carter, and Grant Markham, Blair and Peter Hood; and 1 great-grandson, Gabriel Markham. Don was preceded in death by his parents, James and Frieda Woods Shoultz. Funeral services will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in New Harmony on Friday, June 20, 2008, at 11 a.m., with the burial following in Maple Hill Cemetery in New Harmony, Ind. Friends may call at Werry Funeral Home, New Harmony Chapel today, June 19, 2008 from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Harmony Parks Board for the beautification of New Harmony, or St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Capital Campaign.
