Legendary Houston Anchor to Step Down

KTRK Anchor Dave Ward thinks 50 years is good enough, now it's time to walk away from the anchor desk. 

The legendary Anchor says that he is leaving his Anchor duties at the end of the year. 

Ward hits 50 years with the station November 9th, and will enter Guinness World Records for the longest serving Anchor at one station. 

But don't call it a retirement. Sources close to Ward say he is not ready to stop reporting and delivering the news to his loyal Houston audience.

"Dave has not taken time in his lifetime to have any hobbies," Dave's wife Laura Ward said.  "His hobby is staying connected with his viewers and he has done that for 50 years."

He certainly goes out on top and departs KTRK in a better place than when he got there. Upon his arrival in the late 1960s, KHOU 11 and KPRC 2 were the dominant news stations. Ward changed that. His newscasts soared to ratings highs in the early 70s and stayed that way for the next 45 years. Fast forward to today and Ward's 6pm show is still at the top of the ratings game. Ward left the 10pm newscasts at the end of 2014.

“Dave has mentored multiple generations of journalists in the importance of accuracy and fairness,” said ABC 13 News Director Wendy Granato. “He is a true local legend. We want to thank him for his many years of hard work and dedication to the Eyewitness News family and the Houston community.”

H/T Mike McGuff