WKTV reported that Bill Worden, a prominent presenter for Central New York, had passed away at 80.
Worden, who worked for NewsChannel 2 in Utica for 35 years, passed away on Wednesday morning following a brief illness. Further information was withheld.
“The word ‘icon’ gets thrown around a lot to describe folks whose accomplishments are noteworthy, but Bill earned that title in every sense,” WKTV vice president and general manager Steve McMurray said. “His picture still adorns the hallway in our main entrance because, for so many years, Bill was WKTV.”
No information was given about the funeral services. Everyone respects the great anchor and sends their sympathies his way.
“I’m heartbroken. I first remember meeting Bill Worden at Utica’s Boilermaker Road Race years ago front and center out with his community. He was an incredible journalist. I’m praying for his family, friends, and his community in Utica. We’ll miss him.”
Worden, who was raised and was born in Herkimer, started his career in media in the 1960s, serving at former radio stations like WBVM and WRUN. He transitioned to television in 1971 and served for nearly six years at KTVH (now KWCH) in Wichita, Kansas.
In 1973, he also had a short career at WTVN in Columbus, Ohio. He returned home in 1977 to take over as anchor at WKTV for Jerry Fiore, and he remained there until his retirement in 2012 from the Utica NBC station.
In a 2012 statement, Worden said, “I treasure my years with WKTV and the people I’ve been blessed to work with, including those of the original station members who were still here when I started. WKTV is a historic television station that has set the bar for television in the Mohawk Valley for years. It is more than just a television station.
WIBX publishes. After retirement, Worden published two books: “A Kansas Love Story,” a memoir about how he met his wife, Janna Faith Worden, and “An Abundance of Rain,” a poetry collection. On Christmas Day 2021, Janna passed away, according to the radio station.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
