George Riba retired from Channel 8 on February 20, 2015 after working at WFAA TV for 37 years and five months. He spent nearly 42 years on Dallas Fort Worth Television having also spent time at KTVT TV Channel 11 and KXAS TV, Channel 5.
He joined Channel 8 in September 1977 and worked as a sports reporter, weekend sports anchor, executive sports producer and sports director. Long time Channel 8 sports anchor Dale Hansen estimated that Riba filed more than 8,000 stories during his years at WFAA.
Riba was raised on a farm and ranch in Stonewall, Texas and began his broadcasting career in 1966. At the time he was a student at Fredericksburg High School in the Texas Hill Country. His first job included being a country disc jockey for radio station KNAF in Fredericksburg, Texas. He later worked for radio stations in Fort Worth, Texas, including KWXI, KFJZ and KFWD before turning to television.
During his years at Channel 8, his contributions have helped the News 8 Sports Department win numerous awards, including the Texas Association of Broadcasters award for Best Sportscast, the State Associated Press award for Best Sports Feature as well as Regional Emmy’s.
George Foster Peabody Award:
1986 WFAA Sports for “SMU Investigation”, Contributing Reporter
Texas AP Broadcasters:
1982 Best Sports Feature “Pony Express”
1997 Best Sports Story, George Riba & Arnold Payne
2006 Best Sportscast, Dale Hansen & George Riba & Linda Ting
2012 Best Sportscast, Dale Hansen & George Riba & Sean Hamilton
UPI Broadcasters of Texas:
1983 Best Sports Story
Katie awards, given annually by the Dallas Press Club:
1987 Best Sportscast for team coverage in the Southern Methodist University investigation.
1988 Best Sports feature for “Day Care Basketball.”
1989 Best Sports Story for “David Richards NFL Draft Story.”
1990 Best Sports Story for Duncanville basketball and their “Third Straight State Championship.”
1995 Best Sports Story for – ‘Replacements Replaced.”
1997 Best Sports Feature for “Derric Evans- Renewing the Dream.”
2000 Best General News Story “Special Delivery” Fort Worth Tornado Coverage.
2001 Contributing Reporter for Best Sportscast “Eating Worms” OU-Nebraska
Lone Star Emmy:
1995 Contributing Reporter for Monday Night Live
2004 Contributing Reporter for Monday Night Live
2007 Best Sports Feature, Granny Ball
Riba is an avid runner, having logged 30 marathons. He has run the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on 23 different occasions with a personal best of 3:01
Riba is a graduate from the University of Texas in Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Communications. He is married with no children.