Never Stop Giving Back
How does one go from working in his father’s barber shop as an 18 year old to becoming one of the most recognized television personalities in the Pacific Northwest? “Never stop trying to improve, always recognize those who help you along the way and look for ways to help others.” That’s sound advice from the former Sports Director and Anchor at King-5 Television from 1983-1994 and Kiro-7 Television from 1994-2004.
Beginning in 2004 Tony was host of the Seahawks post game show on 710 KIRO radio, anchor and reporter for Comcast “Local Edition,” and “Newsmakers “ through 2008.
Tony also covered the Seahawks for KCPQ-13 from 2004-2006 before taking a full time job as Digital Media Host for Seahawks.com. During his 10 years with the team, Tony covered three Super Bowls and was awarded a Super Bowl ring by team owner Paul Allen in the spring of 2014.
In the spring of 2022 Tony began working with King County Television on a program called “Community Conversations,” doing interviews with elected officials and other individuals serving their communities in various capacities.
In 2002 Tony wrote his first book, “Smile in the Mirror,” a collection of motivational stories from childhood through his broadcasting career.
In 2009 he published a second edition of “Smile” and in 2016 wrote and published “Here’s Smiling at You,” another collection of stories of hope and gratitude.
In the fall of 2016 Tony ran for U.S. Congress in the 8th district, losing to six term incumbent Dave Reichert. Three years later Tony was elected to the City Council in Newcastle, where he served as Deputy Mayor before moving with his wife Mika to her former home town of Steilacoom, Wa.
Tony has appeared as an inspirational speaker for hundreds of commercial and non profit organizations since the beginning of his broadcast career in the early 1970s.
He has been host of the “Great Strides” walk for Cystic Fibrosis research in Seattle since the mid 1980s.
Besides broadcasting, writing and speaking, Tony has appeared in two dozen community theatre productions in Snohomish and King counties since the early 80s and with close friend Dave Blacker, established the “Rosehill Players” in Mukilteo in 1984.
Tony has four children, seven grand children and one great grand child.
Oh, and the barber career? His Dad wanted to make sure Tony had something to call back on. “I’ll always be grateful to my Dad for teaching me to cut hair. Some of my greatest memories are from the few years we worked side by side at Ventrella’s barber shop in Connecticut. “Need a haircut,” says Tony, “One never forgets something as special as a lesson from their father. Sit down, let me know what style you want.”