A beloved Texas news anchor who was described as a kind, funny and warm presence unexpectedly died at age 51, his news station announced Wednesday.
NBC affiliate KCEN 6 News — a local Texas TV station where Kris Radcliffe worked for 22 years — revealed his sudden death during its evening newscast.
“Kris sat in the chair right beside me, and he was the best, he was simply the best,” Radcliffe’s co-anchor Lindsay Liepman said, holding back tears during an emotional tribute.
“Funny, genuine and smart. I looked forward to working with Kris every single night, and I think you all could tell at home. We had fun here. Kris loved this community and never took his role for granted.”
“If I had known yesterday was going to be our last newscast together, I would have ignored the cues to rap from our producers and just laughed a little longer at all of his jokes,” Liepman said through tears.
“I would have thanked him for all that he’s taught me and given to all of you, the viewers, but that is now how life works out.”
The station paid homage their to fallen colleague before a sister station in Austin took over for the remainder of the broadcast.
“I simply can’t get through the newscast tonight, and I hope you understand,” Liepman concluded.
His cause of death was not announced.
Radcliffe, a California native, joined KCEN in 2002 as a sports anchor and went on to become the morning anchor for “Texas Today,” a daily morning show covering local news, entertainment, sports and weather, for nine years, according to KCEN.
The acclaimed newscaster then became an evening news anchor, covering the latest headlines and breaking news for his central Texas audience.
Over his two decades at the station, he notably covered the Baylor Men’s Basketball scandal, the Columbia breakup over Texas, the Lady Bears 3 National Championships, two Fort Hood shootings, the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion and the Twin Peaks biker shootout, the outlet reported.
Radcliffe also hosted and produced 200 episodes of “Money Talks” for the station — a weekly segment focused on educating viewers about their finances — and for six years in a row was named Waco Tribune-Herald On-Air Television Personality of the Year.
Prior to his time at KCEN, the veteran newsman worked on the air in Nebraska and California and was a graduate of California State University at Long Beach.
“KCEN and the Central Texas community lost a truly wonderful person,” said Rob Dwyer, president and general manager of KCEN/KAGS.
“Kris Radcliffe, husband, father, grandfather and anchor for KCEN and the community will be missed. Kris was a kind and generous person who elevated everyone he was around. It is hard to say goodbye.”
Radcliffe leaves behind his wife, two daughters and two grandchildren, who requested privacy as they mourn the abrupt loss.
His sister, Libby, posted a statement on Facebook on behalf of Radcliffe’s grieving wife, Kris.
“On behalf of my sister, she wanted me to relay to you our profound thanks to the tremendous outpouring of love and support for her, their girls, and families,” she wrote.
“She’s receiving and reading your texts and posts but it’s simply too difficult to respond at this time.”
Details about the memorial and funeral arrangements were not yet made public.