Dad TV Anchors Rock!

One of my goals for 2025 is to increase the number of interviews I provide you in my Dads Rock blog. So below, I present to you my interview with longtime FOX23 TV anchor Ron Terrell.

Ron and I have known each other for almost 20 years, since we both worked for Clear Channel here in Tulsa at 27th and Memorial.

Ron worked on the TV side with FOX23, while I worked on the radio side with 97.5 KMOD. Although we worked in the same building for 15 years, it is a very large building, and we almost never saw each other except for the occasional news stories that provided synergy between the two media outlets. Also, since Ron is a huge fan of live music, we would occasionally run into each other at a concert.

I ended up leaving clear channel/iHeartRadio, or rather they asked me to leave, but as fate has it, I ended up working at Cox Media Group, which meant I was again working in the building at 27th and Memorial because Cox Media Group bought FOX23 from iHeartMedia.

This time, I was determined to make more of a presence on the TV side, and with Ron’s help, my Tulsa Rocks podcast cohost Jill Munroe and I began a new weekly segment on FOX23 called “Tulsa Sounds.” Between the three of us, we have easily seen over 1 million concerts and we all share a love of local music, so it was a perfect fit for us to bring to the FOX23 television audience a segment previewing upcoming music events in Tulsa.

My wife, Connie, is my best friend. We love doing life together. And raising our daughter Taylor has been the best thing that’s ever happened to us. It’s been an absolute joy, and now that Taylor is grown up and out of the house (she’s in California, pursuing her dream of acting), we love visiting her and going on new adventures together.

Ron Terrell and his family

What are some specific challenges you face when it comes to protecting your child’s privacy while still being in the spotlight?

I’ve always tried to limit sharing a lot of information online about my family. As my daughter’s gotten older and is now an adult, that’s changed quite a bit, but I’ve always been really careful about what I post on social media regarding my family.

Being a TV celebrity often means an unpredictable schedule. How do you manage quality time with your kid and make sure you’re present for the big moments in her life?

My schedule is, to say the least, crazy (my first alarm goes off at 1:30 a.m.!). That said, this shift has actually made being there for those big moments easier. The station has also been very accommodating about time off for those big milestones in Taylor’s life. It’s given me the chance to coach her youth sports teams and even participate in a few stage productions with her. Has it impacted how much sleep I’ve gotten? Yes…but that’s a sacrifice I’ve been willing to make.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of fatherhood that might surprise people, given the unique circumstances of being a public figure?

The pride in seeing them accomplish things…there’s nothing like it. When you see them succeed at something for the first time after failing, it’s so fulfilling. I get a better feeling out of seeing her do well at something than I could ever feel for myself doing the same.

You’ve been with FOX23 co-anchor Michelle Linn for a long time. Talk about your close working relationship with her.

She’s great! It’s important that the person you spend the most time with during the day aside from your family be somebody you get along with, and that is definitely the case! She’s a true professional, and we have a great time (along with Laura Mock) trying to crack each other up in the morning.

Advice for dads that rock?

Enjoy every minute. They’ll be grown up and out of the house before you know it. Create as many memorable moments as you can, both for your child and yourself. (And take your kiddo to as many concerts as you can.)