Aníbal González Irizarry
Encyclopedia
Aníbal González Irizarry (born February 26, 1927) - educator, journalist
and news broadcaster
.
, where he also received his primary and secondary education. He completed 3 years of high school
at Sabana Grande High School before his family moved to San Juan
. There he attended the "Escuela Superior Central" (Central High School) of Santurce
. In 1942, when he was 15 years old, he began to work at "WPRA" a radio
station in Mayaguez
and soon became the station's main broadcaster.
, where he worked for the radio station "WWRL
" in a program called "La Voz Hispana del Aire" (The Hispanic Voice on the Air). In that program, he created a character which he called "Monje Loco" (Crazy Priest). In 1951, he joined the radio station "WENX" and was named Director of Spanish
Programs.
In 1953, Irizarry joined the Army
and after he was honorably discharged, he returned to New York and continued to work in the radio as a broadcastor. He enrolled and graduated from "The School of Radio and Television Techniques".
, a Telemundo
affiliate as its radio program announcer. He continued his academic career and graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Puerto Rico
. Telemundo first introduced Telenoticias en Accion (TV News in Action) in 1954 and in the 1960s, Telenoticias en Accion was reintroduced and Irizarry was named anchor along with Ramon Enrique Torres, Juan Manuel Lebron and Bruni Velez.
at the University of the Sacred Heart
in Santurce. He is the co-pastor of the Disciples of Christ Church in Ponce
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and news broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
Early years
Irizarry was born and raised in Sabana Grande, Puerto RicoSabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Sabana Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Lajas and Guánica; south of Maricao; east of San Germán; and west of Yauco. Sabana Grande is spread over seven wards and Sabana Grande Pueblo...
, where he also received his primary and secondary education. He completed 3 years of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at Sabana Grande High School before his family moved to San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. There he attended the "Escuela Superior Central" (Central High School) of Santurce
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. In 1942, when he was 15 years old, he began to work at "WPRA" a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station in Mayaguez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
and soon became the station's main broadcaster.
Radio broadcastor
In 1950, Irizarry moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he worked for the radio station "WWRL
WWRL
WWRL is a radio station in New York City, broadcasting at 1600 kHz AM owned by Access.1 Communications. Since September 1, 2006, its format has been progressive talk radio...
" in a program called "La Voz Hispana del Aire" (The Hispanic Voice on the Air). In that program, he created a character which he called "Monje Loco" (Crazy Priest). In 1951, he joined the radio station "WENX" and was named Director of Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Programs.
In 1953, Irizarry joined the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and after he was honorably discharged, he returned to New York and continued to work in the radio as a broadcastor. He enrolled and graduated from "The School of Radio and Television Techniques".
News anchor
In 1956, Irizarry returned to Puerto Rico and joined WKAQWKAQ (AM)
WKAQ is a radio station in San Juan, Puerto Rico that broadcasts on 580 kHz with a Spanish language talk radio format. The station is currently owned by Univision Radio. Its programming is repeated on WUKQ, which broadcasts on 1420 kHz in Ponce, and WYEL which broadcasts on 600 kHz in Mayagüez...
, a Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
affiliate as its radio program announcer. He continued his academic career and graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. Telemundo first introduced Telenoticias en Accion (TV News in Action) in 1954 and in the 1960s, Telenoticias en Accion was reintroduced and Irizarry was named anchor along with Ramon Enrique Torres, Juan Manuel Lebron and Bruni Velez.
Later years
Irizarry married Ruth Perez Perez and they had two children: Anibal Jr. and Lissette. In 1998, Irizarry retired as anchor of Telenoticias en Accion in Telemundo. Besides news broadcasting, Irizarry taught CommunicationsCommunication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
at the University of the Sacred Heart
University of the Sacred Heart
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón —or Sacred Heart University in English, or simply Sagrado. Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Puerto Rico is a higher education institution based in Santurce, Puerto Rico and one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious institutions in Puerto Rico.Its...
in Santurce. He is the co-pastor of the Disciples of Christ Church in Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
.