After graduating with a master’s degree in radio, television, and film from the University of Iowa in 1968, Mike Blake entered the U.S. Army. He served two years, including the final 11 months on with the Armed Forces Vietnam network. In September 1970, he began a remarkable career in the Evansville market, starting out as a weekday weatherman and weekend sportscaster.
In more than 40 years of sports reporting, Blake has received Associated Press awards for both sports and news work. Over the following decades, he co-anchored the first 5:00 p.m. newscast in Evansville, helped to launch the first Friday night high school football and basketball shows, and continues to host the popular news and community service-oriented show “Midday with Mike.” He has been elected to five sports halls of fame, including those saluting excellence in Indiana football and basketball.