New Anchor Of CBS Evening News Has Oklahoma Ties

Lori Fullbright, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- 60 minutes correspondent Scott Pelley takes over as the main anchor on the CBS evening news on June 6, 2011.  He's been with CBS for 22 years and has covered hundreds of big stories, including the Oklahoma City Bombing trials.

5/3/2011 Related Story: Scott Pelley Named Anchor Of CBS Evening News

News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright met Scott when she was also covering the Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols' trials in Denver. She got a chance to interview him Monday about his new job and his Oklahoma ties.

Scott Pelley is an award-winning journalist who's traveled all over the world, covering the biggest news stories of the past 20 years. Who knew where his life would lead when he started as a copy boy at the Avalanche Journal in Lubbock, Texas.

Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "What do you know about yourself now that you didn't know when you started out in Lubbock?"

Scott Pelley, CBS News: "I fell in love with the newsroom the minute I walked in there as a 15-year-old. It was an exciting place where all the news of the world came in first. I knew everything before anyone in Lubbock and I loved that."

Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "There's a rumor you have Oklahoma ties. Do you have family in Oklahoma?"

Scott Pelley, CBS News: "Oh boy, do I ever. I was born in Texas, but my parents are from Oklahoma, Pottawatamie County. My wife is from Oklahoma. All of her brothers and parents live in Oklahoma. In fact, her parents live in Tulsa."

Scott says his reaction to learning he would replace Katie Couric was disbelief, but says his career has been a dream come true. He hopes to bring the kind of innovative reporting he does on 60 Minutes to the Evening News.

"People are tired of the shouting on television, tired of the veiled opinion, tired of sketchy information they see on the Internet," he said. "What they're looking for is a news broadcast done by serious journalists by a brand they trust, CBS news and a broadcast that doesn't waste their time."

We wrapped up by inviting him to visit News On 6 on one of his next visits to see his in-laws in Tulsa.

Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "We certainly hope to see you in Oklahoma soon."

Scott Pelley, CBS News: "I will be there early and often."

Scott, as he mentioned, is married and they have two children, a son and a daughter.