Mike Blake
Mike Blake is an American television broadcaster who has been one of the most recognizable figures in Evansville, Indiana media for more than five decades. Best known for his longtime career with WFIE-TV (14 News), Blake has worked as a weathercaster, sportscaster, sports director, news anchor and host of Midday with Mike.
Blake’s career in Evansville began in September 1970, making him one of the longest-serving broadcasters in the history of the Tri-State.
Early Life and Education
Blake grew up in the Chicago area and attended Mount Carmel High School, where he played basketball and baseball.
He attended Loras College in Iowa, studying political science and becoming involved in campus radio and theater. He later earned a master’s degree in radio, television and film from the University of Iowa in 1968.
Following graduate school, Blake entered the United States Army.
During his two years of military service, he spent the final portion of his enlistment working with the Armed Forces Vietnam Network, gaining valuable broadcasting experience while serving overseas.
Coming to Evansville
After completing his military service, Blake joined WFIE in Evansville in September 1970.
His arrival came during an important period in the history of local television. Blake initially worked as a weekday weatherman and weekend sportscaster.
He eventually moved primarily into sports and became WFIE’s longtime Sports Director, a position he held for decades.
Blake became particularly identified with coverage of high school athletics throughout Southwestern Indiana. He helped develop some of Evansville television’s earliest dedicated Friday night high school football and basketball programs.
His work made him a familiar face not only to viewers but also to generations of local athletes, coaches and families.
News and WFIE
Blake’s role eventually expanded beyond sports.
In 1986, he became one of the anchors of WFIE’s first 5 p.m. newscast, further establishing himself as one of the station’s leading personalities.
For years, Blake balanced sports and news responsibilities and became part of a well-known generation of WFIE personalities that included Marcia Yockey, David James, Ann Komis and others.
Blake served as WFIE’s lead news anchor from 1986 to 2001 while continuing his involvement with sports.
His career ultimately spanned virtually every major on-air role in local television: weather, sports, news, interviews and community programming.
Midday with Mike
Blake later became the longtime host of Midday with Mike, a WFIE program featuring interviews with local organizations, businesses, community leaders and people involved in events throughout the Tri-State.
The program became another defining chapter of his career and allowed Blake to focus heavily on the Evansville community.
After decades primarily associated with sports and news, Midday with Mike introduced Blake to another generation of Tri-State viewers.
Community Involvement
Blake’s impact in Evansville has extended well beyond television.
For decades, he has participated in charitable events and community organizations throughout Southwestern Indiana.
He became particularly associated with the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, serving as the local host for more than 40 telethons.
His community work has also included involvement with organizations such as the United Way, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House and Little Sisters of the Poor.
At the height of his career, Blake was making dozens of community appearances each year, including charity events, fundraisers and public programs.
Honors
Blake has received numerous honors for broadcasting, sports coverage and community service.
He has won Associated Press awards for both sports and news, with sports broadcasting awards spanning five different decades.
In 2016, Blake received the Indiana Pacers Silver Medal Award and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
He has also received recognition from the Indiana Football Hall of Fame and other sports organizations for his decades covering Indiana athletics.
In 2021, Blake received one of broadcasting’s most significant statewide honors when he was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Richard M. Fairbanks Hall of Fame.
In 2023, the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored Blake with its prestigious Gold Circle Award, recognizing professionals who have contributed to the television industry for at least 50 years.
Legacy
Mike Blake’s broadcasting career is closely intertwined with the modern history of television in Evansville.
Beginning at WFIE in 1970, he covered generations of local athletes, coaches, newsmakers and community events while transitioning from weather to sports, news and eventually Midday with Mike.
His longevity is especially remarkable in an industry where broadcasters frequently move between television markets. Blake instead made Evansville his home and spent more than half a century serving essentially the same viewing community.
From Friday night high school sports and the 5 p.m. news to charity telethons and Midday with Mike, Mike Blake became one of the longest-serving and most recognizable broadcasters in Evansville television history.