Meet Our Host, Emcee and Dancers

EMCEE 2009-2010:
For close to a quarter of a century Scott Murray was the award-winning Sports Director and Anchor at NBC, Dallas/Ft. Worth. During his three decades of television sports, Scott was named Sportscaster of the Year 17 times by various news/media organizations. He won back to back Emmy Awards for Best Sportscaster in 2000 and 2001 and was the recipient of the prestigious Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2002. Although Scott retired from television news in 2003, Scott remains very active in the media world as a published author, Whatever It Takes (Life Lessons Learned through Sports Lessons), a sought-after keynote and motivational speaker, a television and radio talk show host, a commercial spokesperson, and, as Chairman/CEO of his own communications company, Murray Media. Scott is a member of the board of directors of the Lone Star Film Festival and has been a longtime member of the Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Fraternity and AFTRA, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Scott serves on the advisory board or board of directors of a number of sports organizations. Scott was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 1992. Scott stays very active in the community as a volunteer, serving on the board or advisory board of many civic, charitable and non-profit organizations, including his own “Scott Murray Foundation: Lifting Spirits... Building Dreams.” He was inducted into the Philanthropy World Hall of Fame in 1996. Scott’s commitment to community has resulted in his being honored on many occasions with numerous awards, and the honor he cherishes most, Father of the Year Award.

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DANCERS 2010:

Carly Patterson, all around Olympic Gold Medalist
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Carly Patterson became the first American woman in 20 years to win the All-Around Olympic Gold medal since Mary Lou Retton in 1984. The 2004 Olympic Champion, Carly Patterson, was born February 4, 1988 in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , the first of two children to Ricky and Natalie Patterson.

Carly began gymnastics in 1994, after attending a cousin’s birthday party at Elite Gymnastics in Baton Rouge . Less than a decade later, she made her debut at the senior international elite level, winning back-to-back American Cup titles in 2003 and 2004, as well as the title of 2004 US Co-National Champion. Carly was also a part of the 2003 World Championships team where she won a silver medal in the all-around and helped lead the US to their first ever World Championship team gold medal! It was also at this competition that Carly’s signature beam dismount (an Arabian double front) was officially named the Patterson. A year later, Carly achieved her ultimate goal in gymnastics by earning a trip to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens , Greece .

Carly came home from Athens with three Olympic medals. The US women won silver in the team competition – the first medal for the US women in eight years, as well as the second highest finish for Americans in a fully attended Olympic Games. Carly also earned a silver medal on her specialty, the beam. However, it was on August 19th that all of Carly’s hard work, dedication, and love for gymnastics paid off. She won the most prestigious title in gymnastics, the title of 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion. Carly is the USA ’s first Olympic all-around champion in twenty years, as well as the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around title in a fully attended Olympic Games!

Since the Olympics, Carly appeared on the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” She also was featured on an NBC special and adorned the front of a Wheaties box. Carly presented an award at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards; was recognized by Glamour Magazine at the 2004 "Women Of The Year” Award; and was honored as the March of Dimes’ “Sportswoman of the Year.”

In 2005, Carly was selected as one of Teen People’s "20 Teens Who Will Change the World;” walked the runway at New York Fashion Week to promote “The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection” to prevent heart disease; was nominated for the Sullivan Award honoring the best amateur athlete; and was nominated for an ESPY Award in the “Best Olympic Performance” category. Carly published her autobiography “Be Strong” and made an appearance in the movie “Stick It.”

Carly’s interests include singing which is the next career that she would like to pursue. In 2006, Carly was featured in the hit Fox reality show “Celebrity Duets” which paired singing stars with celebrities from outside the music industry. Carly’s possibilities for the future are limitless in and out of the gym.

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN, Chef/Proprietor Chamberlain's Restaurants
Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House in opened in 1993. Shortly after opening, it was named one of the country’s top new restaurants of 1993 by Bon Appetite magazine. Texas Monthly named Chamberlain’s one of the “Top 10 Steakhouses” in the state and “Best Steakhouse for Epicures”. In 1998, Gourmet Magazine rated them “One of America’s Top Tables” and in 1999 and 2000, Zagat published them as one of “America’s Top Restaurants”. Chamberlain’s has been a “D-Best” in D Magazine. In 2000-2007, Chamberlain’s has received an “Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator. D Magazine named Chamberlain’s a Top Ten Restaurant in Dallas for 2008. The Dallas Morning News awarded Chamberlain’s Four Stars in 2009

Prior to opening his own restaurants, Chamberlain spent three years as the executive chef of the exclusive Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, where he received national attention for pioneering American Alpine Cooking. The Little Nell restaurant was ranked among the top ten in the United States. The James Beard Foundation nominated Chamberlain in 1992 for “The Best Chef in the Northwest” award.

From 1986-1989 Chamberlain served as executive chef of San Simeon Restaurant in Dallas. Chamberlain also served as executive chef at Rattcliff’s in Dallas, as executive sous chef at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, and worked under Dean Fearing at the critically acclaimed Mansion on Turtle Creek. In 2006, he was named a Texas winner of the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award for his extensive charity involvement.

In 2001, Richard opened his second restaurant, Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill, to rave reviews. The restaurant has been revered as “Best Seafood Restaurant in Dallas” by Dallas Observer, and a “Top Ten New Restaurant of 2001” by Jim White’s KRLD Restaurant Show.

Richard opened Envy Steakhouse in Las Vegas in 2003. In 2006, Envy was named “Best New Off-Strip Restaurant in Las Vegas” by Las Vegas Life. Richard was featured on NBC’s Today Show with his Healthy Beef Cookbook in 2006. Richard and his son Stephen were featured on the Today Show in 2007 and 2008.

Chamberlain attended the culinary arts program at El Centro College in Dallas while simultaneously working at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. Currently he serves on the board of the Dallas chapter of the American Heart Association. His favorite things include volunteer work and cooking with his wife of 19 years Lisa, eighteen year-old daughter Victoria and fourteen-year-old son, Stephen.

DEE LINCOLN, Founder, Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar, The Dinghy, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, and the Dee Lincoln Foundation

Dee Lincoln’s life story is often described as epitomizing the American Dream.

Though the self-made millionaire has earned award-winning professional milestones and is renowned nationally for her philanthropic endeavors, she remains grounded. She is often described as a gregarious Cajun firecracker.
She is recognized from Dallas to Wall Street as a national female powerhouse in the male-dominated steakhouse industry. She is often referred to as “The Queen of Steak” for her role with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, a restaurant concept she co-founded over two decades ago.

Her extensive wine knowledge is currently earning her national attention from her newest entrepreneurial endeavor, Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar. This high-end concept is the first in a sports arena anywhere in the world housing self-service, high-end wine machines from Italy which deliver wines by the ounce at the perfect temperature. The unique concept affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the experience of tasting as little as 2 oz of 48 famous wines to enjoying the excitement of a full 6 oz. glass.
“Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar is a wonderful partnership at Cowboys Stadium. Dee is one of Dallas’ unique personalities who makes everyone feel right at home. We are thrilled to have her in the new Cowboys Stadium,” said Stephen Jones. National expansion plans are currently underway to open additional Tasting Room & Bubble Bar concepts in stadiums across the country.

Another new concept in her restaurant group is The Dinghy, a casual marina restaurant at Lake Lewisville. The Dinghy will showcase a patio overlooking the water, full bar and casual menu with a Cajun flare.

Lincoln is the recipient of many awards including the Texas Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s nomination for “Restaurateur of the Year,” MDA Community Service Award for raising millions to help MDA children, Savor Dallas “Spirit Award,“ Women That Soar “Brilliantly You” Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary philanthropy and Northwood University’s “Women of Distinction” award.
She is also recipient of NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s Playmaker Award for Community Service, Restaurants & Institutions’ Ivy Award bestowed by her industry peers, Distinguished Restaurants of America National Board Member, Dallas Business Journal’s “Outstanding Business Leader” award, and founder of the Del Frisco’s Classic Golf Tournament recognized by the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the number one net profit tournament in the United States.

As founder of the Dee Lincoln Foundation, her mission is to help children through raising funds through high profile events.

Lincoln grew up in Gretna, a blue collar suburb of New Orleans. After high school, she began a specialty advertising business with one of her first notable accounts being the steakhouse that would fulfill her destiny. She moved to Dallas to open Del Frisco‘s. In 1995, she and her former partner sold Del Frisco’s concept for a record $23 million to Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon. Lincoln stayed on with that company for eleven years. In 2006, Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon sold the Del Frisco’s concept to Lone Star Funds and continue to expand the brand with openings in Charlotte, Houston and Philadelphia.

Though she has risen to the top of her professional career as a nationally-recognized entrepreneur, earned millions for doing so and garnered more national awards and achievements than most, she remains centered. When asked about her greatest accomplishment, she replies, “ It’s the birth of my daughter, Bella. Family is the most important part of my life.”

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Michelle Witten, wife of Dallas Cowboy, Jason Witten

Michelle Witten, wife of Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, currently works as an emergency room nurse at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

In 2007, Michelle worked with her husband to form the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation to help families in crisis overcome hardship and rebuild their lives. SCORE – which stands for Support, Community, Overcome, Rebuild and Educate – also includes a unique SCOREkeepers program that places a male mentor in women’s shelters who interact with children affected by domestic violence. Now active in six North Texas shelters, the Jason Witten SCOREkeeper provides youth a model for of appropriate male behavior.

Michelle is an active organizer of the Jason Witten Football Camp, hosted in the couple’s hometown of Elizabethton, Tenn. Now in its eighth year, the camp has evolved into one of the largest free day camps in the United States, hosting more than 1,600 participants in 2009. The camp has also been featured in a national United Way campaign, titled “A Little You Goes a Long Way.”

Each holiday season, Michelle - with assistance from the Dallas Cowboys Women’s Bible Study – spearheads an annual Christmas party for the women and children living at The Family Place shelter in Dallas.

To further assist at-risk youth, Michelle and Jason have funded the construction of the Jason Witten Literacy Center at the Elizabethton Boys & Girls Club and locally the Jason Witten Media Center at one of the branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas.

As a member of the Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association – an organization of players, coaches and executive wives who team up to make a difference in the North Texas community, Michelle has helped raise funds and donated her time to The Salvation Army, SPCA of Texas, the Rich Behm Family Trust, the North Texas Food Bank, Komen for the Cure, March of Dimes and many more local non-profit organizations. As an arm of the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities, Michelle and other members of the Women’s Association help the Dallas Cowboys fulfill their overall philosophy of assisting those who do not have the strength, resources or means to help themselves.

Most recently, Michelle and Jason were both honored at the Pat Summerall Humble Beginnings Award Luncheon, which benefits Dallas’s Austin Street Centre. The Humble Beginnings Award was design to honor distinct members of the community that come from Humble Beginnings and have attained a point in their lives that they are giving back to the community, honoring where they came from.

Jason and Michelle have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of two sons – CJ (3) and Cooper (2). Michelle graduated with a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Tennessee and was a member of the University of Tennessee Dance Team.

Garry Seith, CBS 11 Meteorologist

TXA 21 Chief Meteorologist Garry Seith's first live weather segments were in blizzard conditions: 12 inches of lake effect snow coming down in 30-40 mph winds!

He was born in Cleveland and grew up in Fort Wayne, Ind. With three years of studies at Purdue University, Garry finished his degree at the University of Indianapolis.

Garry began his television career with an internship at WRTV-6 ABC in Indianapolis. Six months later, he was hired for a weekend weather position with WSJV-28 in the South Bend/Elkhart, Ind. market.

A year later, Garry took the primary weather position with WLFI TV 18 in West Lafayette/Lafayette, Ind., where he was later promoted to morning news anchor and weather anchor.

In August of 1998, Garry joined St. Louis' KSDK News Channel Five, handling weekend morning responsibilities. About one year later, he became the Weather Director at KPLR-TV, also in St. Louis.

Garry is dedicated to community involvement and has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as actively supported Habitat For Humanity, 4-H and his local church. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, golf, softball, off-road biking, dogs and, most of all, spending time with his kids.

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Jocelyn White, Award-winning Texas TV and Radio Personality and President of Jocelyn White Media, an HD TV and Video Production Company

Jocelyn White is a longtime award-winning Texas TV and radio personality, producer, writer and show creator. She is presently head of her own High Definition video production company, Jocelyn White Media. Jocelyn came to Dallas-Fort Worth in 1980 as the area's first female accredited nightime weather anchor. The graduate of the University of Arkansas has created TV programs like "Texas Country Nights," "Hot On!" Homes, "Designing Texas", "Designing America", "Hot On! Health and Beauty," and is currently in production for a series of specials this year on WFAA-TV Channel 8 called "Designing DFW." During her radio career, Jocelyn was a news anchor for Ron Chapman at KVIL radio, Kidd Kraddick's sidekick when he started his show and KISS-FM and hosted talk shows on KGBS radio and KRLD radio as well.

Jocelyn is a strong advocate for animals and is currently on the Board of SPCA of Texas as well as a member of Humane Society of United States. Her beloved nephew Weston is a high-functioning autistic and that is another cause especially dear to her heart. Jocelyn is engaged to Kim Seal, Vice-Chairman of Republic Title and when they are not playing with their two rescued pugs, Walter Cronkite aka "Cronkite" and Ayn Rand aka "Aynnie Fanny," she spends hours in the backyard gardening, reading, or working on what she terms "the novel that will not die."

Brendan Higgins, Television Anchor and personality

For the past 12 years, Brendan has worked at NBC 5, most recently as anchorof of the #1 rated morning show NBC5 Today. In Febuary Brendan ended his career at NBC 5 to begin pre-production on "Waking America," a comedic look at the most ridiculous examples of wasteful governement spending.
During his 18 year career, Brendan won the Edward R. Murrow award for a series of reports that exposed government malfeasance and wasted tax money. His stories over the years have exposed million of dollars in waste and lead to major government investigations and changes to the law.
Brendan was born and raised in Dallas and spent time as a reporter and anchor in Louisiana, Alabama and New York city before returning home. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UNT Alumni Association. He is also a case worker for The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul working to bring financial relief to people in dire need.
Brendan has two sons who keep him happy and busy.

Kim Fischer, Reporter for KXAS NBC 5

Kim Fischer is a proud, native Texan, born and raised in the Houston suburb of Sugarland.
After graduating high school in 1998, Kim moved north to the Metroplex to attend the the Radio Television & Film school at The University of North Texas. While there, Kim cheered on sports fans as Scrappy the Eagle mascot, and completed her internship right here at KXAS in Dallas.
After graduation in 2002, Kim began the hunt for her first job in television, and it didn’t take long for her to land a gig in Abilene, TX. Kim started as a reporter for the NBC affiliate, KRBC-9, and within a few short weeks, she was promoted to the position of morning anchor. After a year there, Kim moved further north to Amarillo, Texas where she was the main anchor for KCIT, the FOX station, and a reporter for the NBC affiliate, KAMR.
In an effort to try something different, Kim found herself back in the DFW area in 2005. She became the host of a TV show called, “Hot On Homes,” while the job was fun, Kim quickly realized her passion was journalism. So in 2007, Kim accepted a job at the NBC affiliate in San Antonio, WOAI. While there, Kim focused on doing stories that had a positive impact on the community; including new initiatives on cell phones in school zones, she even helped a couple get a much needed protective order against an abusive ex.
Now, 2 years later, Kim’s come full circle, as the newest reporter here at KXAS. Kim is always looking for story ideas, so if you have one, you can contact her at kim.fischer@nbcuni.com.