Fred Cowgill waves goodbye one-last time after 38 years at WLKY

Fred Cowgill waved goodbye one-last time on Friday after 38 years at WLKY.Fred made many special memories over the years, but there was one gesture he started doing in the '90s that became extra special to him.At the end of newscasts, you may notice Fred waves, and there's a story behind that wave.Why Fred waves at the end of newscasts in his own words: On Jan. 16, 1994, our first child and son, Ralph Frederick Cowgill, the fourth, was born during one of the worst winter storms in Louisville history. He was born prematurely, five weeks early, and my wife Cindy was terribly sick. She and he both almost died in childbirth. We were snowbound at Baptist East, and Freddie was on the last helicopter to Kosair Children’s Hospital before the helipad closed at Baptist East. The city was paralyzed.At the time, we lived by the WLKY, and we had a dog I had to get back to, so I walked down Chenoweth to Brownsboro Road in a light jacket and duck shoes. It was punishingly awful. Luckily a co-worker drove by in a four-wheel drive (rare then) and rescued me and got me back home. The next day, I was on the air at 6 after a friend with a Jeep helped me commute between both hospitals. I was worried my family was about to end almost before it began. So, at six that night, I spontaneously waved at the end. I instinctively waved, wanting them to know I was thinking of them. Of course, they could not see it. That was never the point. It was about where my heart was. And is. And I’ve waved almost ever since, roughly 30 years later. Cindy and Freddie recovered, and in spite of the adversities, Cindy had three more children for us (Christian, Gracie, Scarlett), so along the way I added a wave for each. Fast forward to 2024 and everybody’s healthy and this family of six is still in one piece and together, as imperfect as life is. But I would not trade any of them or the equity of the experience, for anything. They have been the joy of my life, and as we all are, a work in progress!Yes, sometimes it’s likely seen as me looking for like a grounds crew guy at the airport directing planes to their respective gates. And there are times people have teased me about it. But we work a demanding job with long hours. I brought Cindy and our kids to many places along the way, including but not limited to WLKY, but regardless, I wanted them all (and still do) to understand I was always thinking of them.