Jeff Korbelik: KOLN/KGIN news director resigns
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Randy Lube felt it was time to go.
The KOLN/KGIN-TV news director resigned after more than 12 years on the job at the Lincoln CBS affiliate, which is owned by Atlanta-based Gray Communications.
His last day was Thursday. Newsroom manager Brad Penner will serve as interim director as the station searches for Lube’s replacement.
Lube, 52, said Friday he left 10/11 in order to spend more time with his family.
“I think I had neglected them over the years,” said Lube, who has a wife and two children, a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. “I want to make sure now that they come first.”
Lube said he has no other job on the horizon.
“I’m going to be a little selective, and see what I want to do,” he said. “I’m not quite sure yet. I want to decompress a little bit over the holidays and give some thought to want I want to do next.”
Lube said he would prefer to stay in Lincoln, a city he and his family now call home.
“I want to stay, but it’s important to me to find something that fits well with my family situation,” he said.
Wherever he lands, his new employer will have an accomplished leader on its hands.
During his tenure, Lube became known for finding and grooming talent, with many reporters, anchors and photographers honing their skills here before moving on to bigger stations.
Of the 25 or so people now in the newsroom, chief meteorologist Ken Siemek is believed to be the only one he didn’t hire.
“I’ve pretty much hired everybody several times over,” he joked.
Also during his tenure, KOLN added a 5 p.m newscast, expanded its morning show and began weekend morning newscasts.
“He was very dedicated, very passionate,” KOLN general manager Lisa Guill said. “He worked tremendously long hours and cared tremendously about his staff.”
I’ll miss Lube. He and KLKN-TV news director Mark Haggar both have been good about returning my calls over the years .
They know what it’s like to be on my end, trying to find out why certain on-air talents aren’t on the air anymore.
Both shared what information they were allowed to, and I appreciated that.
Lube also was a good source about news trends. He was knowledgeable about what was happening here and elsewhere.
“It was just time,” he said. “It really was. I have a lot of good memories. A lot of good things happened over the years.”
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
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