28 Facts About Marvin Zindler

Marvin Harold Zindler was a news reporter for television station KTRK-TV in Houston, Texas, United States.

Marvin Zindler went on to John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville, Texas.

In 1941, when the United States entered World War II, Marvin Zindler joined the United States Marine Corps and later received an honorable discharge for medical reasons.

Abe wanted his sons to inherit the store, a career course that Marvin Zindler was reluctant to take because of his father's sometimes angry behavior.

Marvin Zindler began his broadcasting career in 1943 as a part-time night radio disc jockey and spot news reporter at Houston radio station KATL while working for his family's clothing store.

In 1950 Marvin Zindler became a reporter and cameraman for Southwest Film Production Company which produced the 6 pm news for KPRC-TV, but in 1954, he was fired by an executive who said he was "too ugly" to work in TV.

Two years later, Marvin Zindler joined the Scripps Howard Houston Press to work part-time as a crime reporter and photographer.

Marvin Zindler handled Civil Process for two years and then joined the Fugitive Squad where his work took him all over the world to extradite fugitives.

Two years before joining KTRK-TV, Marvin Zindler was assigned by the Sheriff and District Attorney to establish a Consumer Fraud Division with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

On January 1,1973, Marvin Zindler joined KTRK, a station with a news program languishing in third place.

Marvin Zindler made local and national headlines when he and fellow journalist Larry Conners reported on a long-lived brothel known as the Chicken Ranch in Fayette County, Texas, near La Grange, which led to its closure in 1973.

Marvin Zindler had been a primary factor in KTRK's rise from a perennial third in the ratings to its usual number one position.

Marvin Zindler was famed in Houston for his self-described Rat and Roach Report, where he read details from his controversial City of Houston Food Inspection Program restaurant reports on the air.

On his Friday reports, Marvin Zindler had reported birthday and wedding anniversary greetings on air, usually involving those celebrating their 100th birthday or at least a 50th wedding anniversary.

The station has stated that over 100,000 requests for help from Marvin Zindler were received yearly.

Marvin Zindler was the recipient of hundreds of awards from news organizations, charity groups, and medical professionals.

When Gertrude died, Marvin Zindler vowed he would never marry again, yet he fell in love with Niki Devine and married her in 2006.

Additionally, Marvin Zindler owned a cat, Sugar, who died in 2006.

At the time of his death, Marvin Zindler had five children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

At one point in the 1970s, Marvin Zindler considered running for Congress as a Republican, and the local GOP commissioned surveys that predicted he would win.

Also, Marvin Zindler described himself as a social liberal who supported universal health care and the feminist movement.

Marvin Zindler initially been a Democrat and a Lyndon B Johnson supporter.

Marvin Zindler was known for wearing makeup continually, loved cigars, and was a frequent golfer.

Marvin Zindler had his own producer and cameraman as well as his own editing suite at KTRK.

Marvin Zindler was noted for his seventeen cosmetic surgeries, the first of which took place in 1954 after the KPRC-TV firing.

On November 10,1999, Marvin Zindler appeared on KTRK's locally produced mid-morning talk show at the time, Debra Duncan as the show paid tribute to him as well as talking about his life and legacy.

Marvin Zindler stated that he planned to stay on the air as his illness was treated, even doing restaurant reports and greetings from his bedside.

Marvin Zindler's funeral took place on Wednesday, August 1,2007 at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston.