Edward F. Hughes (March 30, 1938 – June 1, 2004) was a former news anchor best known for his longtime role as a news anchor for

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

CBS affiliate WTKR from 1967 (when the station was known as WTAR) until shortly before his death in 2004. In addition, he was also the morning news anchor at radio station Z-104 for a time during the 1980s.VARTV.com , Guest Commentary / Reporting
/ref>

Early life and career

Hughes was a former Navy veteran who had spent four years as a fleet radio operator during his service in the Navy. Hughes was first hired by what was then WTAR-AM after having worked for television stations in Maryland and WXEX-TV in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

; later being added to what was then WTAR-TV.

Reputation

Hughes was a trusted anchor for 37 years, known for his ability to report a story in an unbiased fashion that did not favor one side over another. He never embellished a story or sensationalized it for the sake of ratings or to get attention. Hughes won numerous awards for journalism and broadcasting during his career; including Associated Press awards each year from 1972–84, and especially enjoyed reporting on military news. During his tenure, Hughes had served as a reporter, news anchor and for a short time news director. Hughes was the inspiration for the creation of "WSHS-TV," a news-like TV club at local Smithfield High School founded in 1991 by two senior school students. He was often referred to as the " Walter Cronkite of

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

Illness and death

Hughes had been diagnosed with

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel mo ...

in 2002; continuing to work as WTKR noon and 5:30 p.m. anchor as able; stepping aside to undergo chemotherapy in November 2002 before returning three months later, but suffered a "very serious relapse" following surgery in August 2003.HighBeam
/ref> He died on June 1, 2004, at the age of 66; leaving seven children and five grandchildren behind. Hughes was also married three times.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Ed 1938 births 2004 deaths American television journalists United States Navy officers Deaths from cancer in Virginia Deaths from colorectal cancer American male journalists

Early life and career

Reputation

Illness and death

See also

References

External links