I am News Center 7's resident Longhorn (Hook 'Em!!!), now working deep in the heart of Flyer, Raider, and Buckeye country. Please don't hold it against me.

I joined Dayton's #1 news team in August 2011. I'm originally from Terrell, Texas (Go Big Red!!!)--about a 30 minute drive east from downtown Dallas (Go Mavericks!!!) Before stepping out on faith and making the drive to Ohio, I was a reporter and fill-in anchor for KLTV 7 News, East Texas' #1 news station in Tyler, Texas. I anchored East Texas News Midday at 11:30, and anchored/produced the Saturday evening East Texas News Weekend newscasts.

Clearly, I'm a proud alumnus of THE University of Texas at Austin. That's where I majored in Journalism, with a government concentration. While on-campus, I reported, produced, anchored, edited and shot video for Texas NewsWatch. Studying in Austin, Texas also allowed me to get some awesome newsroom experience, working for KXAN, the Austin NBC affiliate. I spent my last semester of college in Washington D.C. participating in The Bill Archer Fellowship--an experience in government and political communication that I will never forget. That's also where I worked as a writer, researcher and production assistant for the consumer investigation unit at WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. My work has been recognized by the Radio and Television News Directors' Association, as well as the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Let's see: I'm the baby of three, I love to sing, and the only lady in my life, right now, is my car--her name is Sylvia, and I address her as such. When I'm not on-air, you'll more than likely bump into me trying on a pair of shoes (notice I didn't say, buying). I'm looking forward to, 1) the weather--FOUR SEASONS!!! And 2) meeting the people and sharing the stories the Miami Valley has to offer.

EMAIL:
* Email Layron
* Email 7online

Q & A

Where were you born? Mesquite, Texas

Where did you grow up? Terrell, Texas

What was your favorite TV show, then? LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the Cosby Show, and Saved by the Bell (don't judge me), and The Simpsons...

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be? Don't ask me to draw anything, now, but I remember wanting to be an artist...

How might someone have described you in high school? I was Drum Major of the band, Student Council member, in the National Honor Society, and Mr. THS (Terrell High School, 2003)...I was also voted, "Most likely to be the next Oprah" by my senior class, so...feel free to draw your descriptive conclusions.

What was your first job? Paid? I was a 'sales associate' for Gap Inc.--worked at the Old Navy Outlet in Terrell. Unpaid--I volunteered at the Terrell Public Library.

What was your first job in television? Paid--Reporting, and later, anchoring/producing for KLTV 7 News in Tyler, Texas. Unpaid--Reporter, anchor, producer, photographer, editor for Texas NewsWatch at the University of Texas at Austin (again, Hook 'Em!!!)

What do you like about your job? I love being the "go-to guy". I get to learn something new and important, everyday, and then I share that information with viewers. Helping people help themselves is very rewarding, and I'm constantly held accountable for that news and information which makes me want to work that much harder to get it right.

What do you not like about your job? Sometimes, we TV-type people have to intrude at the most inopportune and inappropriate times. I never look forward to interviewing family-members of lost loved-ones or victims of crime, but it come with the job. If I can approach those folks with respect and dignity, I find they are a lot more open to sharing their stories.

What might people be surprised to know about you? I sing...as in I LOVE, to sing...AND, I'm comfortable in the ALTO register--I'm a guy, but I have a range--just sayin'!

What is the hardest thing you ever did? I left family and friends, and familiarity and headed north to Dayton, Ohio. So far, though, WHIO-TV, Cox Media, and the Dayton area has welcomed me with open arms.

What would be a perfect day for you? I once spent about 15 hours in a movie theater watching 5 best-picture academy award nominees... Give me some good movies and a DVD player... and a vat of fruit snacks, and I'm gold!

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business? Most TV folks know this: TV news is LESS ABOUT YOU--the reporter, anchor, producer, photographer--than you think. If your viewer isn't the person in the forefront of your mind, then you should probably refocus your story. Make 'em care!

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career, what would be on it? The happy stuff--the story of the 99 and 100-year-olds celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary (yes, I did that one)... The story of the teenager who escaped a car wreck and somehow found the strength to lift that overturned car, to save her sister's life (did that one)... The inauguration of our country's FIRST, African-American president...those are things I'll always keep on file in my mind...