cathyCATHY DAWES

Cathy Dawes has been news director at Manhattan Broadcasting since the end of 2001. In the nearly 30 years of broadcasting, Dawes has worked in markets from the size of Hiawatha, Kansas to Jacksonville, Florida, and in a variety of states including Oklahoma and Illinois. She’s been the recipient of several awards through the years, including a couple of Edward R. Murrow’s, and a variety of awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasting, Associated Press, and the Heart of America through the Kansas City Press Club. Dawes says her favorite part of her job is working with people, although she’s sometimes frustrated she can’t attend many of the exciting events she reports on. Only so many hours in a day!

In addition to her day job, which begins at 5 a.m., Dawes is married,  with seven children, and two grandchildren. She enjoys her singing, with the Wamego Dutch Mill Sweet Adelines Chorus and the Harmonious Synergy quartet. She also keeps busy with the Hope Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center she and her husband run for disabled children. Recently the program has also expanded to working with wounded soldiers and their families. If there’s ever any spare time, Cathy likes to read—science fiction is her favorite as she feels she gets enough nonfiction in her daily work life. Cathy grew up in Atchison, Kansas, graduated from Atchison High School with a 3.98 (B+ in Driver’s Education)  and graduated from the University of Kansas (but don’t hold that against her!) with a degree in Broadcast-Journalism.  She is the youngest sister of three. In addition to 20 horses, Dawes has two dogs and three cats.
Nicknames: “News Goddess”

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Favorite Food: crab legs

Favorite TV Shows: Ghost Whisperer, Big Love

Favorite Sports Team(s): Kansas State, but also KU (confusing, I know), Raiders

What’s In Your iPod/CD Player: Van Halen, AC/DC, Michael W. Smith

Three Things You Can’t Live Without: God, my family, people

A Talent Most People Don’t Know About: my singing, can play the piano, used to run 10k’s but now just walk (bad knees)

Favorite Part of the Day: when I finally get to bed!

Your High School Mascot: Redmen (no longer politically correct)