Editorial: Remembering Polly

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

Along with thousands of other people in Southern Nevada, we watched on a daily basis as Polly Gonzalez delivered the news from her anchor's chair at KLAS Channel 8. As the first female Hispanic anchor in Las Vegas, she was a positive role model for minorities. We admired the talent of the Emmy Award winner and respected the professionalism she displayed during all of her newscasts. At work we thought of her as a trusted colleague in the news business. And over the years, as her image was broadcast into our homes every day, we thought of her almost as an extended family member, always pleasant and welcome. That's how many nonprofit organizations felt about her too, as she was known for contributing her time to further their work.

And along with all of her other viewers, we were deeply saddened Monday when we learned of her tragic death, the result of a car accident. "She would just light up the room with her spirit, energy and passion," Robert Stoldal, vice president of news operations for Channel 8, told the Sun.

That's how we'll remember Polly, as a person whose light shone brightly in Las Vegas from 1994 to 2005 -- a time that was altogether too short.