Patricia Gras

Patricia Elizabeth Gras (born August 12, 1960) is an American journalist, television anchor, reporter and producer.

Patricia Gras
Patricia Wins 5th regional Emmy.
Born
Patricia Elizabeth Gras

(1960-08-12) August 12, 1960
Houston, Texas, US
Occupation(s)News Anchor
Television Producer (1991 - present)
Years active1988 - present
Known forLiving Smart with Patricia Gras on Houston PBS (2003-Present)
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Awards6 Regional Emmy

Early life and education

Gras was born in Houston, Texas of Argentinian parents. In 1962, they moved back to Mendoza, Argentina, where she grew up. In 1972, she moved back to the United States with her parents. Resettled in Houston, she attended Saint Agnes Academy in 1979 and went on to get a bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University. She received master's degrees from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, from the ESADE in Barcelona, Spain and in 1990 in Journalism from Columbia University in New York City. While in Spain, Gras learned Catalan, her fifth spoken language besides Spanish, English, French, and Italian.[1]

Career

Before completely pursuing a career in television journalism she worked as a marketing executive for Ralston Purina in Spain and with Duquesne Purina in Paris as a market researcher. In 1987 she returned to Houston. Her first job in television was with Telemundo's Channel 48, which produced the first newscast in Spanish. In the early 1990s after graduation from Columbia University she began working for Houston Public Television.[2] She worked for the Public Broadcasting Service in Houston, Texas, Channel 8, for 22 years. Her local talk show "Living Smart with Patricia Gras" aired on PBS channels.[3] She also co-anchored Latina Voices: Smart Talk on Houston PBS, an English language, internet streamed talk show with a Latina perspective, until 2011.[4] In 2012, she was a delegate for the Nobel Women's Initiative fact-finding mission on violence against women in Mexico led by Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams.[5]

Awards

Gras has been the recipient of over 170 journalism awards.

  • Regional Emmy award: Houston PBS: EMMY Lone Star : Houston Refugees (producer) 2012
  • Regional Emmy award: Non News Writing Fuel for Thought: High Gas Prices and How They Got That Way. (2009)
  • Regional Emmy award: Producer, "Romania’s children: The Power of Love" (2005),[6]
  • EMMY Suncoast: “Heroes” (1997)
  • EMMY Suncoast: “Romania’s children: Rescued by love” (1998)
  • EMMY Suncoast: “Living with Hope” (2000)[7]
  • EMMY Suncoast: “Struggle makes you stronger.” (2000) [7]
  • Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce, Earl B. Loggins Award, 2006[7]
  • Willy Velazquez Hispanic Excellence Award 2005[7]
  • North American Taiwanese Women's Association Community Award 2005[7]
  • Anson Jones Medical Award, for Living Smart, “The Art of Sleep”[7]
  • Bronze Telly Award-National, Struggle Makes You Stronger[7]
  • Bronze Telly Award-National, Angel in the Journey[7]
  • Bronze Telly Award-National, Living with Hope [7]
  • Francis C. Moore M.D. Medical Journalism Award, 2005[8]
  • National Mental Health Association's National Media Award 2000[9]
  • Barbara Jordan Media Award, 2001[10]
  • Barbara Jordan Media Award, 2004[11]
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association Annual First Amendment Award, 2004[12]

In 2008, Gras was voted one of the most influential women by Houston Woman Magazine.[13]

References
  1. "Patricia Gras". Houston PBS. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011.
  2. Evans, C. (12 December 2002). "Multi-talented producer seeks fifth Emmy award". Campus News, Office of Internal Communications, University of Houston. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007.
  3. "Houston PBS: Living Smart". Houston PBS. 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
  4. "Program Information (Smart Talk)". LatinaVoices.com.
  5. "From Survivors to Defenders: Women Confronting Violence in Mexico, Honduras & Guatemala" (PDF). Nobel Women's Initiative.
  6. "Archives". The Emmy Awards Lone Star Chapter. 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012.
  7. "Recent Awards Bestowed upon HoustonPBS". HoustonPBS. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  8. "Of Note Archives". University of Houston. August 2005. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2007. The Harris County Medical Society and the Houston Academy of Medicine presented its 2005 Francis C. Moore M.D. Medical Journalism Awards to KUHT-TV, Houston PBS. KUHT-TV staff members Patricia Gras and Fujio Watanabe received an excellence award for "Weight Loss Surgery." Gras, Watanabe, Joe Brueggeman and Gordon Luce were honored with a merit award for "Miracle Coach" and an excellence award for "F.I.R.S.T. Psychiatric Response Team." They also received a Crystal Award of Excellence at the 2004 Communicator Awards for "Miracle Coach."
  9. "Media Awards" (PDF). The Advocate. Vol. 21, No. 2. Mental Health Association of Greater Houston. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  10. "2001 Barbara Jordan Media Award Winners". Office of the Governor Rick Perry. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  11. "2004 Barbara Jordan Media Award Ceremony Photos". Office of the Governor Rick Perry. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  12. "UH Today: "the Connection" Wins HTLA First Amendment Award". University of Houston. April 29, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  13. "2008 Honorees". Houston Woman magazine.
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