Barbara Boyd turned 90 on April 27, but her age is not why she’s lived a full life. She not only found success as Indianapolis’ first Black female television journalist but also as a community advocate. To celebrate Boyd’s life and accomplishments, friends and family will celebrate her most recent milestone on May 4.
Boyd became a television journalist by accident. A television station called the school where Boyd worked at the time to see if they could shoot footage of a classroom. Boyd joked that she was available if the station ever needed a star. To Boyd’s surprise, the station took her offer seriously. She applied for the job and began a 25-year career with WFBM-TV, now WRTV Channel 6.
“I used to say to myself, ‘My God, am I getting paid to do this?’” Boyd said. “That’s how much fun I had. I was as excited about my job the day I left as the day I started.”
Boyd’s most popular story dealt with breast cancer — her own — and was filmed in a hospital bed a week after having a mastectomy. At a time when talking about breast cancer was taboo, Boyd called for breast cancer awareness, screening and knowing treatment options. While it seems strange today, some people were offended, with one person calling the station to say Boyd went too far. However, the story led to Boyd doing a 30-minute feature on breast cancer, touring the country to speak about the disease and receiving the American Cancer Society’s Woman of the Year award.
“When that story was over, people on the anchor deck … sat there in awe, red faced, and the phones lit up,” Boyd said.
Even though Boyd is currently retired, she is still active, enjoying bridge, Zumba, gardening and reading. Boyd also is involved in a number of local nonprofits, and her favorite organizations — Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, March of Dimes and the United Negro College Fund — address children’s issues.
“One of the questions people ask after you retire is, ‘What do you do during retirement?’” Boyd said. “My answer is to stay busy. … I got myself involved in the community, and giving back to the community is very important to me.”
Boyd’s party will include 300 people from across the country and one guest from Mexico. The party will feature live music while a magician travels from group to group entertaining people. Boyd is having a “soul dinner” featuring greens, ham and sweet tea. And, of course, dancing.
“I love dancing,” said Boyd, who enjoys doing the wobble. “Without dancing, it’s not a party to me.”
The party is only for friends and family, but Boyd said she appreciates any fan wanting to wish her a happy birthday on Facebook, even if she sometimes has trouble responding to them. For Boyd, the best birthday gift would be seeing people living out the advice she ended every show with:
“You have a great life and stay on top of the world.”
Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminLashar.
