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Pete O'Neal

Posted at 10:39 PM, Feb 17, 2014
and last updated 2017-07-25 13:54:16-04

Pete O’Neal knows the streets of Baltimore as well as he knows the back of his hand. Growing up in East Baltimore, Pete was always in search of adventure and his favorite pastime was riding his bike all over the city. Now, instead of searching the streets for adventure on his ten speed bike, Pete searches the streets for news with his camera. Little did he know, his childhood passion for the streets would lead to his nickname, “Pete On the Street”.

Pete came to WMAR TV news department in March of 1985 after working two years in the WBAL engineering department. He has worked for WMAR the past 25 years. He has also worked as a technical advisor and actor on Homicide: Life on the Street and as a freelancer for networks such as ABC, CBS and HBO.

Pete has won multiple Emmy Awards two of which were for the weekly children’s television program he created and produced called “It’s Kindertime”. He has also received numerous community service awards including the Harlow Fullwood Service above Self Award, the Scripps Howard William R. Burleigh Award, and WMAR’s Key Contributor Award.

Pete founded and organized the annual “It’s Kindertime” Toy Drive in 1998. Since then with the help of numerous police and fire departments, thousands of toys have been donated to needy and sick children throughout Baltimore and the state of Maryland.

Pete enjoys listening to jazz, driving his Corvette on a sunny day with the top down and family time with his wife Beverly, his two sons Peter and Patrick, and daughters-in-law Gen and Chantal.

These words by William Penn summarize Pete’s philosophy on life:"I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, let me do it now... as I shall not pass this way again."