Steve Crabtree
Encyclopedia
Steven Christopher Crabtree (born June 12, 1955) is an American journalist
. He was the Republican
nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State
in 1995.
Crabtree was a drummer and vocalist with a number of bands that performed throughout the Ohio Valley
and the northern panhandle of West Virginia
during the 1970s. He left Moundsville, West Virginia
in 1977 for Somerset, Kentucky
to be close to family that had already left West Virginia.
After two years working on campaigns for United States congressman
Hal Rogers
, a Republican from Kentucky's 5th congressional district
, Crabtree went to work as a reporter and later news anchor for WKYT-TV
in Lexington, Kentucky
in 1981. Then, in 1982, he married the former Judi Luttrell of Somerset, Kentucky
. The couple had three sons; Tyler, Matthew and Cory. In 1985, Kentucky Central Insurance Company
, that owned WKYT-TV at the time, signed on WYMT-TV
, a CBS
affiliate in Hazard, Kentucky
, sending Crabtree to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky
to be that station's first news anchor and later news director.
In 1987, Crabtree went cross-state to ABC
affiliate, WBKO-TV
in Bowling Green
as news director/anchor, later serving as WBKO-TV Station Operations Manager.
In 1995, Crabtree was the Republican nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State, defeating his GOP primary opponent by a more than three-to-one margin. Crabtree was defeated in the general election by Democrat John Y. Brown, III
, son of fast food magnate and former Kentucky Governor
John Y. Brown, Jr.
Crabtree later moved his family to Erie, Pennsylvania
where he was news director and anchor for ABC affiliate WJET-TV
for three years. In 2000, he relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee
as Vice President for News and Station Operations of WVLT-TV
, a CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
. Steve Crabtree resigned from his position as News Director in January, 2011. In a statement to current employees, he is leaving "on his own" to pursue other opportunities. Crabtree will stay till April 2011 or on until a replacement is announced.
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...
. He was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Kentucky
The Secretary of State of Kentucky is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current Secretary of State is Democrat Elaine Walker, who was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to fulfill the...
in 1995.
Crabtree was a drummer and vocalist with a number of bands that performed throughout the Ohio Valley
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and the northern panhandle of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
during the 1970s. He left Moundsville, West Virginia
Moundsville, West Virginia
Moundsville is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,998 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County. The city was named for the Grave Creek Mound. Moundsville was settled in...
in 1977 for Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
to be close to family that had already left West Virginia.
After two years working on campaigns for United States congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Hal Rogers
Hal Rogers
Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and early career:...
, a Republican from Kentucky's 5th congressional district
Kentucky's 5th congressional district
Kentucky's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in the heart of Appalachia in Southeastern Kentucky, the rural district is one of the most impoverished districts in the nation and, as of the 2010 U.S. Census, it has the largest percentage of...
, Crabtree went to work as a reporter and later news anchor for WKYT-TV
WKYT-TV
WKYT-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station in Lexington, Kentucky, serving the east-central part of Kentucky. Through cable, the station also reaches much of eastern, southern & northern Kentucky. Its transmitter is located in Lexington, east of the intersection of I-75 & US 60...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1981. Then, in 1982, he married the former Judi Luttrell of Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
. The couple had three sons; Tyler, Matthew and Cory. In 1985, Kentucky Central Insurance Company
Kentucky Central Insurance Company
Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company was one of the largest Life Insurance companies in the United States, writing policies in 49 states and the District of Columbia until its collapse in 1993...
, that owned WKYT-TV at the time, signed on WYMT-TV
WYMT-TV
WYMT-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Hazard, Kentucky. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter south of the city in Perry County. Owned by Gray Television, the station is sister to Lexington's CBS affiliate WKYT-TV. Although it identifies...
, a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate in Hazard, Kentucky
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
, sending Crabtree to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Mountain Coal Fields
The Eastern Mountain Coal Fields is part of the Central Appalachian bituminous coal field, covering all or parts of 30 Kentucky counties and adjoining areas in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. It covers an area from the Allegheny Mountains in the east across the Cumberland Plateau and...
to be that station's first news anchor and later news director.
In 1987, Crabtree went cross-state to ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate, WBKO-TV
WBKO
WBKO is the ABC-affiliated television station for South Central Kentucky licensed to Bowling Green. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter along KY 185/Richardsville Road in unincorporated Northern Warren County. The station can also be seen on Insight...
in Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
as news director/anchor, later serving as WBKO-TV Station Operations Manager.
In 1995, Crabtree was the Republican nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State, defeating his GOP primary opponent by a more than three-to-one margin. Crabtree was defeated in the general election by Democrat John Y. Brown, III
John Y. Brown, III
John Young Brown III is a Kentucky politician. Brown served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1996 to 2004. In 2007, Brown ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky as the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jody Richards, the Speaker of the...
, son of fast food magnate and former Kentucky Governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
John Y. Brown, Jr.
John Y. Brown, Jr.
This article is about one of four John Young Browns, from Kentucky, that have served political office. For others see: John Young Brown ...
Crabtree later moved his family to Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
where he was news director and anchor for ABC affiliate WJET-TV
WJET-TV
WJET-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Pennsylvania's Northwest Region. Licensed to Erie, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at its studios on US 19/Peach Street in Summit Township. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable...
for three years. In 2000, he relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
as Vice President for News and Station Operations of WVLT-TV
WVLT-TV
WVLT-TV is the CBS television network affiliate station serving Knoxville, Tennessee, the 58th DMA in America according to Nielsen Media Research...
, a CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Gray Television
Gray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with administrative offices in Albany, Georgia.Established in 1946 by James H...
. Steve Crabtree resigned from his position as News Director in January, 2011. In a statement to current employees, he is leaving "on his own" to pursue other opportunities. Crabtree will stay till April 2011 or on until a replacement is announced.