(WJAR) — NBC 10’s Bill Rappleye and Sara Wye will be inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2026.
Longtime political reporter Bill Rappleye will be inducted posthumously. He was well-respected as a reporter and well-liked as a person.
Rappleye signed off NBC 10 News in 2020 to take on a new role focusing on long-form reporting for «Rhode Island PBS Weekly» on Rhode Island PBS, now called Ocean State Media.
Bill Rappleye makes a snow angel during storm coverage. (WJAR)
Bill held reporting positions in Boston and New York earlier in a career that spanned about 40 years. He died in 2021.
The NBC 10 Sunrise team remembered their colleague on Friday morning as the announcements were made public.
The NBC 10 Sunrise crew remembers Bill Rappleye as he will be inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and TV Hall of Fame. (WJAR)
Mario Hilario and Alison Bologna shared some stories, which can be viewed above.
Sara Wye was among the first women to break through the gender barrier in the news department.
She is credited with blazing a trail for other women at NBC 10.
File image of Sara Wye. (WJAR){ }
«They wanted me to do what were then sort of traditional women’s stories, and I wasn’t interested in that. I wanted to prove myself by doing the same stories that the guys were doing,» Wye recalled later in her career.
She did prove herself in the field, during live election coverage, during special broadcasts, and eventually at the anchor desk.
This year’s class also includes WPRI photographer Les Breault, Heather Gersten of Lite 105, television and radio personality Will Gilbert, Jim Hummel of «The Hummel Report» and «Lively,» and Art Spencer of Lite 105.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (2)
A ceremonial dinner for the class of 2026 is planned for September at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.
