July 8, 2008
Tony Seaton Passes Away
Award Winning, Multitalented Journalist Will Be Missed by Colleagues and City Officials
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
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Huntington, WV (HNN) – “It’s with great sadness that I let you know that Tony died this afternoon around 5 p.m.,” said Carter Seaton, Tony’s mother. His father and I were with him and it was very peaceful.”
HNN received word from Richard Cobb, Sr. that at 4:45 p.m. July 7, Tony Seaton passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center. In addition to his mother, Seaton’s father, Jim, and his great-aunts, Elinore and Nancy Taylor were also present when he died.
At this time arrangements for a memorial service to be held at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church are incomplete. Cobb indicated that in order for family and friends traveling from out-of-state the service likely will be after July 18, 2008.
His mother, Carter Seaton, said, “I can’t begin to tell each and every one of you how much I appreciate your prayers, love and support. Without all of you, we couldn’t have withstood it.”
Matt Pinson, publisher of Huntingtonnews.net said: “Tony was a multitalented journalist who was accurate, fair , a perfectionist and always digging for more. He will be missed.”
David. M. Kinchen, HNN Editor and a newsman whose career encompasses stints at five daily newspapers -- including more than 14 years at the Los Angeles Times -- said: "When I learned the sad news of the passing of Tony Seaton, one of the most talented TV producers and videographers I've known, I immediately clicked on the Huntington News Network video archive:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/videos/index.shtml
"What a range of coverage! Tony Seaton could do anything with video and he had the news sense and writing ability to put words to his videos and photos and make them a seamless whole. This is a rare combination in the news business, which is all too often compartmentalized, with word people and picture people doing their own thing.
"The last video was posted on March 21, 2008 and was headlined: Barack Obama Hits Hard on Iraq
"Tony Seaton was doing what he loved, covering the news, in this case a campaign appearance by Presidential candidate Barack Obama at the University of Charleston. It saddens me beyond words to write this, but Tony Seaton will live on through the work he loved doing.
"Tony, I'll miss you and the often heated discussions we had over a phrase or style matter. You displayed the kind of passion that we all need in this challenging, often exasperating profession. A Spanish phrase comes to mind: "Vaya con dios."
Attesting to the “fairness” were Huntington Mayor David Felinton and Police Chief Skip Holbrook. “Tony cared deeply about Huntington and wanted what was best for the city. He had an extensive career in journalism and was always fair and honest in his work,” Felinton said. “I will miss him as I have come to think of him as a friend over the years. I am proud to have worked with him.”
Police Chief Holbrook also regarded Seaton as a “friend. He was very respectful of me and the police department. He was professional and tenacious when he got on a story. He held my feet to the fire... and he was very fair [in his portrayals]."
Robert Anthony “Tony” Seaton, whom the Rev. Cinda Harkless interim pastor of Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, called a “renaissance man… serious about his faith [and] deeply touched by justice issues,” began his career in his hometown at WOWK TV in 1980 before moving to WSAZ in 1983. While at WSAZ, he received the 1986 Video Documentary Excellence Award from Region 3 Society of Professional Journalists.
During his stay at WSAZ, he worked with Bob Brunner, Kathy Brown, Tim Tooten, Kenny Bass, and D.J.
Having earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast and Magazine Journalism at Marshall University, he moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1987 as an editor, producer.director, director of photography for Time Warner Cable Productions. He photographed and edited commercials and long-form videos, winning over 30 ADDY awards.
While in Florida, he formed Precision Productions, Inc. where his client ranged from CNN and the Fox News to ESPN, The Travel Channel, ABC-TV, The Golf Channel and Fit TV. He worked on the Learning Channel special, “How’d They Do That?” in which he spent a day with Hollywood special effects master Dick Smith. Two of Smith’s most memorable appliances were the “Green Pea Soup Hurl” (for Linda Blair in “The Exorcist”) and the Head Applique for “The Elephant Man.”
Ironically, prior to returning to Huntington following a motorcycle accident, he produced/directed/edited the syndicated, “Second Opinion,” a medical show that interviewed doctors promoting their expertise in their field.
Martina Bills, a reporter for WOWK-TV, expressed words to sympathy: “From everyone at WOWK-TV, our thoughts and prayers are with the Seaton family and everyone at HNN. I enjoyed working with Tony on different stories throughout the city. He will be missed,” Bills said.
City Council member Scott Caserta wrote, “Our family’s prayers are with the HNN family and the Seaton family. Thanks HNN, for remaining HNN.”
At this time, funeral arrangements are incomplete.
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Tony Seaton Passes Away
Award Winning, Multitalented Journalist Will Be Missed by Colleagues and City Officials
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “It’s with great sadness that I let you know that Tony died this afternoon around 5 p.m.,” said Carter Seaton, Tony’s mother. His father and I were with him and it was very peaceful.”
HNN received word from Richard Cobb, Sr. that at 4:45 p.m. July 7, Tony Seaton passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center. In addition to his mother, Seaton’s father, Jim, and his great-aunts, Elinore and Nancy Taylor were also present when he died.
At this time arrangements for a memorial service to be held at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church are incomplete. Cobb indicated that in order for family and friends traveling from out-of-state the service likely will be after July 18, 2008.
His mother, Carter Seaton, said, “I can’t begin to tell each and every one of you how much I appreciate your prayers, love and support. Without all of you, we couldn’t have withstood it.”
Matt Pinson, publisher of Huntingtonnews.net said: “Tony was a multitalented journalist who was accurate, fair , a perfectionist and always digging for more. He will be missed.”
David. M. Kinchen, HNN Editor and a newsman whose career encompasses stints at five daily newspapers -- including more than 14 years at the Los Angeles Times -- said: "When I learned the sad news of the passing of Tony Seaton, one of the most talented TV producers and videographers I've known, I immediately clicked on the Huntington News Network video archive:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/videos/index.shtml
"What a range of coverage! Tony Seaton could do anything with video and he had the news sense and writing ability to put words to his videos and photos and make them a seamless whole. This is a rare combination in the news business, which is all too often compartmentalized, with word people and picture people doing their own thing.
"The last video was posted on March 21, 2008 and was headlined: Barack Obama Hits Hard on Iraq
"Tony Seaton was doing what he loved, covering the news, in this case a campaign appearance by Presidential candidate Barack Obama at the University of Charleston. It saddens me beyond words to write this, but Tony Seaton will live on through the work he loved doing.
"Tony, I'll miss you and the often heated discussions we had over a phrase or style matter. You displayed the kind of passion that we all need in this challenging, often exasperating profession. A Spanish phrase comes to mind: "Vaya con dios."
Attesting to the “fairness” were Huntington Mayor David Felinton and Police Chief Skip Holbrook. “Tony cared deeply about Huntington and wanted what was best for the city. He had an extensive career in journalism and was always fair and honest in his work,” Felinton said. “I will miss him as I have come to think of him as a friend over the years. I am proud to have worked with him.”
Police Chief Holbrook also regarded Seaton as a “friend. He was very respectful of me and the police department. He was professional and tenacious when he got on a story. He held my feet to the fire... and he was very fair [in his portrayals]."
Robert Anthony “Tony” Seaton, whom the Rev. Cinda Harkless interim pastor of Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, called a “renaissance man… serious about his faith [and] deeply touched by justice issues,” began his career in his hometown at WOWK TV in 1980 before moving to WSAZ in 1983. While at WSAZ, he received the 1986 Video Documentary Excellence Award from Region 3 Society of Professional Journalists.
During his stay at WSAZ, he worked with Bob Brunner, Kathy Brown, Tim Tooten, Kenny Bass, and D.J.
Having earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast and Magazine Journalism at Marshall University, he moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1987 as an editor, producer.director, director of photography for Time Warner Cable Productions. He photographed and edited commercials and long-form videos, winning over 30 ADDY awards.
While in Florida, he formed Precision Productions, Inc. where his client ranged from CNN and the Fox News to ESPN, The Travel Channel, ABC-TV, The Golf Channel and Fit TV. He worked on the Learning Channel special, “How’d They Do That?” in which he spent a day with Hollywood special effects master Dick Smith. Two of Smith’s most memorable appliances were the “Green Pea Soup Hurl” (for Linda Blair in “The Exorcist”) and the Head Applique for “The Elephant Man.”
Ironically, prior to returning to Huntington following a motorcycle accident, he produced/directed/edited the syndicated, “Second Opinion,” a medical show that interviewed doctors promoting their expertise in their field.
Martina Bills, a reporter for WOWK-TV, expressed words to sympathy: “From everyone at WOWK-TV, our thoughts and prayers are with the Seaton family and everyone at HNN. I enjoyed working with Tony on different stories throughout the city. He will be missed,” Bills said.
City Council member Scott Caserta wrote, “Our family’s prayers are with the HNN family and the Seaton family. Thanks HNN, for remaining HNN.”
At this time, funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
