MOBILE, Ala. — After almost 44 years of dedicated service, FOX10 facilities engineer George Criminale retired this week, prompting a surprise send‑off that highlighted the deep respect and affection his coworkers feel for him.
A Surprise Celebration
Current and former FOX10 staff gathered at the station’s studio on Government Street for a surprise celebration on Criminale’s final day. “We are surprised! I had no idea — all of this was going to go on,” Criminale said, clearly moved by the unexpected tribute.
Colleagues Recall His Impact
Former anchor and reporter Renee Dials expressed gratitude for the chance to say goodbye. “I can’t imagine he’s going to go home and sit and enjoy his retirement like I have,” Dials said. “He’s going to be busy all of the time — I know.”
Good Day Gulf Coast anchor Sarah Wall remembered how employees could always count on Criminale to solve any problem. “Any problem you had you could go to him and he would fix it,” Wall said. “There was no problem too big or too small. He always helped with a smile.”
Chief meteorologist Jason Smith noted that Criminale’s expertise extended beyond the studio. “Any time I have a home improvement project at my house, I bounce ideas off George,” Smith said. “He’s a wealth of knowledge and I’ll miss having someone to compare tools and materials with.”
Behind‑the‑Scenes Heroics
Criminale’s contributions include building sets, installing lighting, and constructing live‑on‑the‑road show sets. He also helped construct the station’s current building from the ground up after starting at the original FOX10 studio in 1982.
Anchor Chelsey Sayasane recalled a chaotic Fat Tuesday broadcast early in her tenure when Criminale literally crawled between her and co‑anchor Joe Emer to fix a malfunctioning set piece. “You never know when you’re going to see him,” she said, emphasizing his willingness to jump in wherever needed.
Emer added, “That speaks to George’s character—he’s willing to do whatever it takes for everyone in this building. He’s an incredible human being.”
Family Feel at FOX10
Main anchor Lenise Ligon asked Criminale the day before his departure if Friday would be his last day. “He said yes. And I said, what are we going to do? Honestly — what are we going to do?” Ligon recalled. Criminale replied, “I don’t know.”
Describing his tenure, Criminale said, “It’s a sad day — not only a new chapter but this station has been family for me for over half my life.” He added, “I’ll miss the people. It’s like a family. Some have been here a year, others almost 40 years — Channel 10’s like a family to me.”
Future Plans
Beyond the studio, Criminale is active in Mobile’s Mardi Gras community, where he builds floats. He plans to continue volunteering and traveling with his wife during retirement.
General manager Eric Duncan announced that Criminale will still assist the station on special projects. “He’s going to come back and work on projects for us and do some other work for us,” Duncan said. “So we will see him from time to time.”
Legacy of Service
Criminale’s retirement marks the end of an era for FOX10, but his legacy of reliability, craftsmanship, and a family‑first attitude will remain a benchmark for future staff. As the station looks ahead, it does so with gratitude for a man who helped keep the lights on, the sets ready, and the community spirit thriving for more than four decades.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
