GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Diana Pierce, a hall-of-fame broadcaster and one of the Twin Cities most beloved and enduring television personalities, is announcing her retirement from KARE 11.
Diana has been a cornerstone of the KARE 11 family since coming aboard in 1983 as a news anchor. Most recently, she’s been co-anchoring KARE 11 News at 11 a.m. and KARE 11 News at 4 p.m.
“The timing for me is excellent,” she said. “I’ve been looking for new challenges.”
Diana will graduate from Augsburg College later this month with a Master in Arts and Leadership.
“My years in broadcasting have brought me incredible opportunities to interview people, from ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tremendous leaders. The program at Augsburg gave me exactly what I wanted to add to my skill set for a new adventure.”
Colleagues know Diana as a friendly, multi-talented and caring co-worker who has given much of her time through the years to charitable endeavors and KARE 11 community projects.
“In my 36 years in the business, I have not come across a person who conducts herself with as much grace and class as Diana Pierce,” said John Remes, general manager of KARE 11. "She is a true professional who enjoyed a sparkling career at KARE 11. Her connection to all Minnesotans runs deep, and it’s an understatement to say she will be missed.”
“Diana has had an outstanding career at KARE and we are all looking forward to celebrating with her,” said Jane Helmke, KARE 11 news director. “We know she will be a tremendous success in whatever she chooses next.”
Diana started her career in radio in New Hampshire before moving on to television, working at stations in Durham, NH, Fresno, Calif. and Norfolk, Va.
But it was her arrival at KARE 11 (then WTCN) in 1983 that propelled her career in television to new heights. Paired at the anchor desk with another broadcasting legend, Paul Magers, Diana and Paul’s chemistry translated into ratings success for KARE 11, helping to make the station’s community-centered brand of news a market leader. The two worked together for 20 years until Magers left for a job in Los Angeles in 2003. Over two decades, Paul and Diana became one of the most popular anchor duos in Twin Cities' television history.
Diana was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcast Association’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
Among Diana’s many memorable reports, was a story on a young man named Joe Dilts, who was battling ALS. The story won national recognition from the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
She also reported on health and fitness news, was at Jesse Ventura’s campaign party on the election night he “shocked the world,” and reported from the red carpet at the Academy Awards.
Diana’s interest in fitness went beyond reporting. She hosted a series of seasonal walks to encourage the public to get active, and the Diana Pierce Family Mile is a popular event, associated with the Twin Cities Marathon for more than 10 years, attracting thousands of participants.
Diana is also a driving force behind many KARE 11 community projects, including community blood drives and KARE 11’s annual volunteer recognition event, “11 Who Care,” hosting the event every year but one.
She is also active in supporting many other charitable causes around Minnesota, including the Animal Humane Society, the Women’s Auxiliary for the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra (WAMSO), Children’s Heartlink and the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. She currently sits on the board of the Minneapolis YWCA.
Diana’s last day on KARE 11 will be Friday, April 22. We will celebrate Diana’s amazing career with a series of special stories and surprise guests during the week of April 18.