Dick Rea
Richard (Dick) Rea’s career as a sports journalist in Indianapolis spanned more than three decades. Known for his extensive knowledge of local sports and consistent on-air presence, Rea became a beloved figure in the city’s broadcast community. He spent 17 years at WISH-TV and 15 more at WTHR-TV, taking on roles ranging from reporter and anchor to sports director and producer. Over the years, he witnessed major industry shifts and built lasting relationships with the people who shaped Indiana’s sports scene.
Abby Turner interviewed Dick Rea for the IBHA Oral History Collection in 2024.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Rea grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, where his first taste of performing came from playing in his high school’s marching band. Though he didn’t continue with marching band, he credits it with helping him develop poise under pressure, an essential skill for live broadcasting. His real introduction to media came at Lafayette Jefferson High School, which operated a student-run FM radio station. That early exposure sparked a passion for on-air work that would guide his career. He’s since been inducted into the school’s Alumni Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in broadcast journalism.
Rea continued his education at Butler University, where he studied radio and broadcasting. As a senior, he landed an internship at WISH-TV—an opportunity that marked the beginning of his long and demanding career. He worked hard, often through holidays and weekends, including 25 consecutive Christmas Days on the job. But the exhaustion was outweighed by a deep love for sports journalism. Rea says the energy and passion of the athletes he covered made the hard work worthwhile. From high school football games to major professional events, he found joy in telling the stories that others didn’t see. He recalls being consistently nervous when interviewing legendary Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight, who was known for only answering questions he deemed worthy.
Because of Indianapolis' place in American sports, Rea had a front row seat to so many important events, including this live interview with 1983 Indy 500 winner Tom Sneva after the race, complete with champagne shower.
The Highs and Lows of the Business
While Rea had a long, successful career, it wasn’t without its setbacks. He recalls a particularly tough period in the mid-1990s when layoffs and restructuring hit the industry hard. He had a string of high-profile assignments, including covering the Indiana Pacers during their playoff runs in the late 1990s, and anchoring some of the most-watched sports broadcasts in Indianapolis. Once, he covered a Pacers game on a Friday night and went on the early morning show that Saturday. He also said there was constant pressure to break news and deliver stories on tight deadlines.
Clips in this video
However, Rea’s career wasn't just defined by the high-profile stories he covered. It was also about the smaller moments, the personal connections he made with his colleagues and the community. He commonly covered high school sports, which allowed him to give these lesser known athletes some attention.
Once, when he was covering a tennis clinic for kids, the coach from the University of South Carolina thanked him for all the work he had done to help young people. Previously, Rea hadn’t thought of what he did as being meaningful in that way, but he realized that it absolutely was. He highlighted local athletes, spoke at events around the community, and tried to be involved. He felt proud to be able to do this for his home.
Clips in this video
For Rea, the rewards were worth the hardships. He spoke with pride about the stories he was able to tell, the relationships he built with athletes, and the impact his reporting had on the community. At the heart of his career was the joy of connecting with people and telling their stories through sports.
Written by Abby Turner, edited by Katherine Maners
April 2026
Bibliography
Dick Rea’s LinkedIn Page, where he lists his job experiences: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickreacommunicator/details/experience/
Full Interview with Dick Rea and Abby Turner: https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/jq086j14s
Tom Sneva, Indy 500 Winner 1983 interview with Dick Rea: https://ibha.indiana.edu/item/kh04fc44r/
Dick Rea’s final newscast with WISH-TV: https://ibha.indiana.edu/item/k643bp540/
Dick Rea covering local sports in Indy, 1982: https://ibha.indiana.edu/item/q524k972v/
Dick Rea reporting live on high school sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJw4lP6l5o
Dick Rea in the studio with WTHR-TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DeH5AIrRVk&t=1s
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