Remembering Dennis Richmond: Celebrated KTVU Anchor Passes Away at 81

Respected Bay Area journalist Dennis Richmond died on February 5, 2025, at 81. With his wife Deborah by his side, he passed away in Grass Valley, California, at their house.

Starting his career with KTVU in 1968 as a clerk-typist, Richmond Rose to the position of anchor by 1976. He became among the first Black reporters in the country to head a major market broadcast. Over three decades, he became a reliable voice for innumerable viewers.

Coverage of Major Events

Dennis Richmond covered several important events throughout his remarkable career that changed the Bay Area and the country. Especially, he gave consistent, calm reporting throughout times of crisis—that example, during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills wildfire.

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Tributes and Legacy

Tributes from both public personalities and coworkers came in after his death. Former co-anchor Julie Haener said, “He battled it. He stayed on as long as he could. He was well esteemed. People will truly, quite severely be impacted by this news.”

Reflecting like many Bay Area residents, State Senator Jesse Arreguin said, “Like so many others, I fondly recall growing up seeing Dennis Richmond on the news. Inspired by him, generations of reporters raised the bar for journalistic honesty and quality. He will be much missed but never forgotten.”

Dennis Richmond’s reputation is shaped by his relentless dedication to journalistic ethics and his trailblazing work in newsroom diversification. For more than thirty years, his cool head and commanding presence earned him confidence in Bay Area homes. Remembering Dennis Richmond honors a trailblazer whose achievements in journalism will inspire the next generations always.