Veteran TV newsman Garrick Utley has died at age 74. Utley is known for his incredible work in Vietnam, his news anchor position at NBC and later CNN, and his work on PBS. His death is a big loss for the broadcast industry, especially in light of recent news that Tom Brokaw, another NBC legend, has also been diagnosed with cancer.
Here’s what you should know about this story:
1. He Died After a Long Battle With Cancer
(Wikipedia)
Utley passed away earlier this week. He is survived by his, wife Gerthe Utley, two bothers, and a number of nephews, nieces, and god-children.
2. He is Best Known for His Coverage of Vietnam and September 11
Utley’s career was bookended by perhaps his two most notable feats of journalism, reporting from Vietnam during the war, and finally, co-anchoring NBC’s coverage of the September 11 attacks less than a year before his retirement from broadcast journalism.
3. He Grew Up in Chicago, Surrounded By Journalism
Utley was born in 1939 in Chicago, where both of his parents were NBC radio correspondents. After attending Carleton College, he went followed in his parents footsteps where he became a reporter for NBC, becoming one of the first American journalists reporting on the ground from Vietnam.
4. He Broke Some of the Biggest News Stories of the 20th Century
At NBC nightly news throughout the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, Utley reported on world changing stories, including the Roe v. Wade decision, the death of Lyndon B. Johnson, and Vietnam.
5. Utley Became Professor of Journalism After Leaving CNN
After Utley Retired from Journalism in 2002, he became a professor of broadcasting and journalism in New York City.