Popular news anchor Bill Williams has passed away at the age of 91. He had been working in the field for more than two decades before retiring in 2000.
The channel where he worked announced the news
Bill Williams’ death was announced on Tuesday, August 19, by Tennessee’s WBIR channel, where the news anchor worked for 23 years before retiring in 2000.
Even during his retirement, Williams still appeared on occasional news broadcasts on the channel.
The general manager paid him tribute
As Williams’ cause of death remains undisclosed, tributes for the long-timer started pouring in.
President and General Manager of WBIR, David Hunt, said in a statement, per the Mirror, “Bill Williams wasn’t just the face of WBIR, he was its heart and soul.”
Hunt believes Williams will inspire generations
“His integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to serving the East Tennessee community Straight from the Heart, set a standard that will guide this station for generations to come,” Hunt went on.
He praised Williams for his contribution
“Bill was the newsman the viewers trusted, the steady voice of our time,” Hunt added.
“His legacy is not only in the stories he told, but in the lives he touched. We are forever grateful for his leadership, his example, and his love for this community.”
Williams was a key person for the channel
The late news anchor was the face of WBIR’s evening broadcasts for over two decades, with appearances in more than 10,000 broadcasts between 1977 and 2000 when he retired.
After announcing his retirement, Williams told News Sentinel, “I feel I’ve been so fortunate to have been so accepted. It’s hard to give it up, particularly knowing that you can make a difference.”
He initiated ‘Monday’s Child’
In 1980, Williams initiated a weekly segment called ‘Monday’s Child’ where he highlighted children in need of adoptive families.
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He told News Sentinel, “I want every one of them, practically. I’d have a whole house of children if my wife would let me.”
He was also among the first to report on HIV
Williams was also one of the first local news personalities to report on the HIV and AIDS crisis in 1987.
His influence was so highly-regarded that in 2010, the street where WBIR’s studios are situated was renamed Bill Williams Avenue.
People wrote him tributes online
As people started learning of Williams’ death, tributes for the news anchor poured in online. One person on X wrote, “Oh no! Bill Williams was a legend around these parts as WBIR’s anchor for decades. He was great at what he did and represented everything good about East Tennessee.”
Another said, “RIP Bill Williams. A bonafide legend in the Knoxville TV market.”
