Alan Shope was raised on the southwest side of Wichita, near 27th & Seneca and attended Rea Woodman, Truesdell, Wichita South High School & Campus High schools.
Alan, also known as George Alan to close friends and family, grew up playing all sports but baseball is where he excelled. After playing two years of baseball at South High, Alan was recruited after his senior year to play college baseball, but soon gave up his dream of playing professionally and transferred to Wichita State University, graduating in 1991.
Beginning his television career as a videotape editor/photographer at KSNW in Wichita, Alan got his first on-air job at KSNT in Topeka. He worked as a News Reporter, Sports Reporter, Outdoor Sports Reporter and Ag Reporter. Winning numerous awards in Topeka got him noticed by KSHB in Kansas City. Alan worked there for seven years, winning more awards and was twice nominated for an Emmy. When he had the opportunity to move back to his hometown of Wichita, KS, he jumped on it.
In his spare time, Alan enjoys playing golf and basketball and pool. He also enjoys helping coach his son's little league baseball team that played for the title last year.
Trivia:
Alan collects AFX slot cars and had more than 3000 in his collection at one time.
Alan's Grandfather was "Grandpa Tom Coberly" a legendary fast pitch softball pitcher.
Alan went to the same high school as actor "Don Johnson".
Alan's birthday is June 25th.
Alan's is a big time Chiefs, Dodgers and Clint Bowyer fan.
Alan lost both of his parents to colon cancer and is a local advocate for Hospice Care Center's.
Alan has written over a one-hundred short stories and six movie manuscripts.
Alan has written a children's book (not yet published).
Alan has written over one-hundred songs and has recorded twenty-three of them.
Alan owns a US Patent and Trademark
Alan is married and has two children, one girl and one boy.
Alan owns a lake cabin in Missouri and spends as much time as possible there.
Alan has appeared live on TV over five-thousand times and has done more than twenty-five hundred stories for the TV news.
Alan covered the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Alan covered the 1995 OK City Bombing.
Alan's job has taken him to all but six states in America.
Alan made a list of one-hundred things he wanted to do in his life when he was in college. Only eleven of those goals remain unchecked.
Not all of Alan’s hobbies are sports-related. In fact, he recently had his 2nd novel, “My Attrition” published in paperback. Copies can be ordered at iUniverse.com or Amazon.com. Alan has also written two more novels due out in late 2009 or 2010 and if Jerry Seinfeld ever decides to bring back his TV show and needs some writing help, Alan is ready with a script he created just for Jerry.
