Dan Ashley and Leslie Lyles recall their time at WCBD

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – It’s a big milestone for News 2 this week as we celebrate 70 years of service to the Lowcountry. WCBD signed on the air as WUSN on September 25, 1954, and later became WCBD in 1971.

As we reflect on decades of journalism and service, we’ve also enjoyed reconnecting with the station’s history… and the many people who have worked here over the years.

Dan Ashley was a lead reporter and anchor at Channel 2 from 1987 until 1995. He described his time in Charleston as magical.

He is still working in the news business and serves as an evening news anchor in San Francisco, California. But he credits his time in Charleston for preparing him for such a long and successful career.

“WCBD continues to have a tradition of excellence in broadcasting, and News 2, one of the finest newscasts and news teams anywhere, with just great people doing great work, I have always been so proud to have been able to work there as an anchor and as a reporter for many years, and I have so many great memories,” he said.

One of those memories was covering the Spoleto Festival each year, calling it an uplifting and fun time.

“Of course, we went through Hurricane Hugo, base re-alignment, the navy re-alignment, and so many other big stores that happened over the years, but my time there was magical and gave me the opportunity to do some other things in my career as well,” he said.

Leslie Lyles, who worked at News 2 from 1987 until 1994, was a lead reporter and anchor at the station. She shared what it was like to cover the big stories like Hurricane Hugo, a story with impacts so great they would be covered for the next decade.

Lyles shared how she feels the role of journalism continues to change and evolve. While reflecting on her favorite memories at News 2, what she said still rings true for many of us who work here at the station, and that was about the amazing colleagues she worked with along the way.

“To my former colleagues and my dear friends, I love you all to pieces… and you know that. And to the people who are currently working there, boy you are the luckiest people ever, you may not know it- we all have big dreams, we go off to bigger things. Let me just tell you, it does not get any better. You are working at the greatest little television station in America, in the greatest town in America, with the greatest individuals.”

 “My favorite memories have to do with my colleagues, I worked with the hardest working, craziest bunch of fellas mostly, like my friend Dan Ashley, my friend Rob Fowler, and those guys worked hard, and they made you laugh the whole time, those are the greatest memories, she said.”