Neal Davis, WTNZ-WKNX Knoxville GM, To Retire

Neal Davis, general manager of Lockwood Broadcast Group’s WTNZ (Fox) and WKNX-LP (ind.) in Knoxville, Tenn., has announced his retirement from the stations, culminating a 33-year career in broadcasting. His last day will be Aug. 5.

“Having the opportunity to work in a field I have loved for more than 30 years has been a true blessing to my family and me,” he said. “The television organizations I have worked for have been tremendous. The last 11-plus years with Lockwood Broadcast Group has been the pinnacle and leaving the company, and television, is bittersweet. While I have truly enjoyed my many years in television, I look forward to devoting my time to family and friends.”

Davis joined Lockwood in 2011 as general manager of CW affiliate WBXX Knoxville. In 2016 he moved to the GM role at Wichita’s KAKE (ABC), when that property was acquired from Gray Television Group in an exchange for WBXX.

He returned to Knoxville and his current role in 2019, when Lockwood acquired WTNZ as part of a four-station spin resulting from the merger of Gray and Raycom television groups.

Davis began his television career in sales at WCIA Champaign, Ill., after graduating from the University of Illinois. From there he held GM roles for Sinclair Broadcast Group in Raleigh, N.C., and Peoria-Bloomington, Ill., before joining Lockwood.

Lockwood President Dave Hanna said: “Neal’s reputation as a great broadcaster is exceeded only by his reputation as a truly good man. So many throughout our group have appreciated, and benefited from, the leadership, good citizenship, and community service mindset he brought to the three stations he led for us.  We’re so grateful to Neal for that, and we wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”