Leta Powell Drake is a Nebraska celebrity who has a lifetime career in broadcast television as host, producer, writer, announcer and program director. During her 46 year Professional Broadcasting Career she hosted and produced over 10,000 Television shows. She has acted in more than 100 plays and 2 movies. She has been the featured speaker or emcee for hundreds of civic and social groups. She is a licensed Private Pilot. She is a former member of the National Association of Television Program Executives. One of the creators of the Star City Holiday Parade. She has won city championships in horseshoe pitching, golf and bowling

She is a member Screen Actor's Guild and has served on the boards of directors of CFPA, UNL Alumni Association, Lincoln General Hospital Auxiliary, Mayor's Film Commission, Muscular
Dystrophy Association, Lincoln Advertising Federation, Lincoln Community Playhouse, Theatre Arts for Youth, YMCA, The Salvation Army, 99's (Women pilots) Nebraskans for Public Television, Nebraska Public Radio, and many
others.

Contents

1. KOLN-TV
2. Nebraska Public Television
3. Salvation Army
4. Other Experience
5. Education
6. Awards
7. Community Involvement

1. KOLN-TV
Program Director (28 years)

Purchased and scheduled programs

Writer, producer, on-air host

Public Affairs, Director of Children's Programming, Director of talent development and
sales.

Hosted and produced the 10/11 Morning Show for 25 years. She interviewed over 1,000 movie and TV celebrities, humanitarians and two presidents.



Kalamity Kate


In 1967, Leta Powell Drake created the character of Kalamity Kate, the West’s only lady sheriff for 15 years on Cartoon Corral. This program had a large audience from across Nebraska. “Cartoon Corral” went off the air in 1982, but Drake said hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t refer to the show. .
2. Nebraska Public Television


Assistant Network Program Manager (13 years)

Programmed the 9 station state network and cable system

Drake became the spokesperson for Nebraska Public Television through their fund drives and auctions. While she was programming manager, NET reached all times highs in membership and donations.


3. Salvation Army

Director of Development and Community Relations.

4. Other Experience

• American Public Radio

Wrote and produced stories on business and economics for nationally syndicated
show "Marketplace"

• The Family Channel Cable Television

Set up interviews and location shoots for series called "American Snapshots"

• KLIN Radio, Lincoln, NE

Writer, producer, on-air host of talk shows

• WUHF-TV, Milwaukee, WI (now called WXIX)

Writer, traffic, talent

• KDAL TV, Duluth MN, (now called KDLH) CBS affiliate

Writer, talent, receptionist

• Swanson, Sinkey, Ellis Advertising, Lincoln, NE

Writer, producer, talent for radio and TV

• Harney Advertising, Lincoln, NE

Writer, producer, talent for radio and TV

• Golds/Brandeis, Lincoln, NE

Radio and Television Director

5. Education

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Minnesota, Speech and English
• Master of Arts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Theatre Arts
• Post-graduate work in Theatre Arts
• Post-graduate work in UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications at

UNL
6. Awards and Recognition

• Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, August 2010
• Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska
• Life Membership Award Lincoln General Hospital Auxiliary, October, 2002
• Mayor's Arts Award “Sam Davidson Award in Theatre,” May, 2001

• “Lady Vestey Gracious Lady Award,” Superior, Nebraska, May 2001
• “Golden Grid Award” from Trac Media for largest increase in ratings of any PBS station

in country over a three-year period, 1997

• “PBS Development Award” First Place for raising the greatest dollar percentage

increase during yearlong pledge drives than any PBS station in the system, 1997

• “Abe Lincoln Award” Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission for Service to

the Community, presented by Bob Hope

• Who's Who in American Women

• Friend of Nebraska Award, Seward Chamber of Commerce

Grand Marshall in 4 July parade

• Salvation Army's “Bonnet Award” of distinction for service to others
• Television Bureau of Advertising

First Place Award for best locally produced TV commercial in the US

• Lincoln Advertising Federation

First Place Award for best locally produced TV commercial

• "Best Actress" award five times at University of Nebraska Theatre
• "Elsie" Award, Outstanding Performance Award six times at the Lincoln Community

Playhouse

• "Aldo" Award Men's Fashion Association of America

First place seven times for the best local television coverage of men's fashions in
the country

• All Women's' Transcontinental Air Race Powder Puff Derby

Placed twice in the top ten and piloted a single engine aircraft across the US four times

7 Community Involvement

• Salvation Army

Chair of the Board for 7 years; Member over 35 years

• Lincoln Community Playhouse Board of Directors

Vice President, Chair of Programs Committee, two terms

• University of Nebraska Alumni Association

Board of Directors. Chair of Awards Committee, two terms

• University of Nebraska College of Fine and Performing Arts

Alumni Board Past President (Currently serving 4th term)

• University of Nebraska OLLI (Osher Life Long Learning Institute)

Chair of Fine Arts Committee

• University of Nebraska Foundation

Fund the Leta Powell Drake Best Actor Award annually

• University of Nebraska Theatre

Purple Masque and Alpha Phi Omega Honorary

• UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications

Kappa Tau Alpha

Kappa Tau Alpha

Kappa Tau Alpha is an American college honor society which recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication...

Journalism Honorary

• UNL Alumni Association Cather Circle

• Mayor's Committee on International Friendship

• Friendship Force of Lincoln

Ambassador of goodwill to foreign countries