Bill Buckmaster prepares a newscast at KICU-TV, San Jose, 1982
Called Tucson’s esteemed TV host, Bill Buckmaster has interviewed more than five thousand newsmakers earning the reputation as Tucson’s most trusted voice for news and information. Beginning his career in 1969, he edited three monthly trade magazines based in Phoenix and went on to serve there as a broadcast editor for the Associated Press. Buckmaster moved on to news director spots in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Visalia, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Buckmaster with Co-Host Jan Hutchins at KICU TV San Jose
He quickly became a fixture with television anchor positions at KICU-TV, San Jose-San Francisco and at KUAT-TV, PBS-Tucson. As the driving force behind KUAT-TV’s “Arizona Illustrated,” the iconic Arizona PBS news and public affairs program, Buckmaster has created the broadcast ‘town square’ for the issues that matter most to Southern Arizona residents. His dedication to the community has not gone unnoticed. The Tucson Chapter of the American Advertising Federation named Bill its 2011 Golden Mic Award Recipent. In 2010, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department presented Bill with its highest civilian honor, The Citizen Medal.
Bill Buckmaster receiving his Silver Circle Award with mentor the late Jack Jacobson, Arizona Hall of Fame Broadcaster
Over the past two decades, he has earned five individual Emmy Award nominations, the coveted Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, an Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Achievement Award, and a best of Tucson award from Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. Another honor was a welcome surprise. Buckmaster’s name on an asteroid. Only one other broadcaster has such an honor, the legendary Walter Cronkite.
In 2010, Bill formed Bill Buckmaster Communications, L.L.C., which produces Buckmaster.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Arizona and earned his Master of Education degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Bill is also a proud veteran of the United States Army.
Bill and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and together they have traveled the world, visiting 90 countries and all 50 states. Along the way, they have collected memories, experiences, and a better understanding of the world. But they always love to come home to Tucson and their beloved Norweigan Forest Cat “Princess.”
