'Marvin Zindler was a consumer champion': Houston remembers iconic consumer reporter

Marvin Zindler, who broadcasted into Houston's living rooms with his straightforward, flamboyant reports about which restaurants to avoid for more than 30 years, would've turned 100 on Aug. 10. 

On July 5, 2007, ABC13 announced that Zindler was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer that had also spread to his liver and he died a few weeks later on July 29, 2007. 

According to ABC13 News, Zindler worked for the Harris County Sheriff's Department as a consumer fraud investigator before getting the attention of ABC13 News Anchor Dave Ward who got him a job at the news station as one of the country's first consumer reporters.

"@abc13houston's Marvin Zindler was a consumer champion," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wrote in an Aug. 10 Twitter post. "He did some hard stories and very rarely did anyone question his credibility. I grew up watching Marvin on the news and remember one of his memorable quintessential sayings: 'It's hell to be poor.'"

Ironically, Zindler previously tried to get a job on TV, but was told he was too ugly for a career in television prompting him to undergo plastic surgery.

"The first time I saw Marvin on the air, I couldn't believe it," recalled ABC13 anchor Melanie Lawson. "I thought, 'Is this a joke? This guy in a white suit and blue glasses.' I'm sure it's the same reaction everybody around the city had, but when I got here, and I finally met him, I realized he's the real deal."

Zindler's weekly rat and roach report urged local restaurants to keep their restaurants clean lest they'd earn the dubious honor of ending up on his show.

"Everything to him was just out in the open. Live completely. No problem walking in front of the camera. No problem talking about his face lifts. He was just a fun guy to work with," ABC13 anchor Art Rascon said.

Zindler's archives are stored and maintained at the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections, according to ABC13 News.

The collection includes memorabilia from Zindler's career including scripts, calendars, photographs and video archives.