For over a decade, veteran WAVE 3 News anchor John Boel has served the people of Louisville, Kentucky. He is a highly respectable, iconic, and multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist. When he is not working, Boel loves to train for triathlons. But now, the veteran anchor is taking a break to focus more on his health. His regular viewers want to know if the anchor is leaving WAVE 3 News and if he will return to the station in the future. Find out what happened to John Boel and his break from the station.
John Boel’s Education and Career
John Boel graduated with a BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). After working at well-known Kentucky television stations like WYMT-TV, WBKO-TV, WLOX-TV, and many more, he became the face of WAVE 3 News in Louisville in 2012.
He currently co-anchors WAVE 3 News from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. The talented investigative reporter has won 98 Emmy Awards, 13 Edward R. Murrow Awards, and many best news anchor awards.
In 2018, Boel was inducted into the Silver Circle. This honor is bestowed on people from the Ohio Valley who have made significant contributions to the media.
However, he believes his work helping people overcome addictions would be his greatest legacy. Boel is also a fitness enthusiast and has completed 13 Ironman triathlons. Another feather on his cap is his book, On the News, In the News, which spent three months on the Louisville best-seller list.
John Boel to Undergo Back Surgery
John Boel is set to go on a six-week break from anchoring to undergo a massive back surgery called a laminectomy. WAVE 3 News anchor Shannon Cogan shared an update regarding his surgery on February 8, 2023.
Cogan said, “Watching him anchor the news, you likely don’t notice the pain he is in every single minute because he hides it so well. His back is causing him so much pain. When we worked together each night I felt so bad watching him suffer through this pain. And for someone so active – it’s been hard to stop his life. He’s getting the surgery tomorrow morning and will be off for six weeks. Let’s hope this helps him live again like he’s used to (maybe without Ironmans)”.
Boel had undergone back surgery in 2021 and had taken only eight days off after the surgery. But in July 2022, his neurosurgeon told him he needed a severe surgery called laminectomy after viewing a significantly worse MRI. For that, the doctors would cut away bone in the L3,4,5 areas to open up the spinal canal.
In January 2023, Boel qualified for a legacy spot in the Ironman world championship. Unfortunately, he had to give up his dream due to upcoming back surgery.
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Now Boel’s colleagues and long-time viewers are praying for his speedy recovery and hope he will get back behind the anchor desk soon.
