WHEC Anchor Janet Lomax Retires After 36 Years

On Dec. 22, anchor Janet Lomax signed off from the 6 p.m. anchor desk at Hubbard Broadcasting’s NBC affiliate Rochester, N.Y. (DMA 76), for the last time

“Janet,” said WHEC VP-GM Derek Dalton, “exemplifies the best of everything journalism and local news is supposed to be. It’s been an honor to work with and I’m proud to call her a friend.”

The outpouring of community support could be seen on WHEC.com and WHEC’s Facebook page. You can view her final sendoff, well wishes from the community and an emotional tribute here.

Lomax received her start a week after her college graduation, at WAVE in her hometown of Louisville, Ky.

Lomax was hired as a reporter/photographer at WAVE and was quickly given additional duties as host/producer of Urban Insight, a weekly public affairs program.

She worked at WAVE for four-and-a-half years before a job offer brought her to WHEC in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 19^th, 1980, as a reporter and was quickly moved to co-anchor the main evening newscasts on Sept. 20, 1982. Lomax was the first woman of color to anchor major newscasts in Rochester.

In addition to her anchor duties, Lomax reported on the arts. She has written and co-produced numerous half hour specials and is responsible for Best Seat in the House which focuses on the local arts scene.