Tom Jarriel, a legendary ABC News anchor and reporter who rose to fame for his coverage of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the turbulent administration of Richard Nixon, has died at the age of 89.
His family announced his death on Thursday. according to ABC News.
Jarriel was born in Georgia and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana.
His storied journalism career, which spanned nearly four decades, began in 1958 when he joined KPRC in Houston, Texas.
Just seven years later, she joined ABC News and quickly gained national attention when she covered the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. three years later.
Tom Jarriel, a longtime ABC News anchor and reporter, has died at the age of 89.
In 1969, Jarriel was promoted to the network’s chief White House correspondent, covering the Nixon and Ford administrations.
A decade later, Jarriel became host of ABC’s Weekend Report and joined the network’s new primetime news program, 20/20, where he reported on criminal justice and spoke directly to national leaders.
Among its many reports was a highly praised article about female members of the armed forces who claimed to have been raped and sexually abused while serving their country.
He also did a series of reports on the plight of orphans in Romania, which he would later call “the great, defining story of my career.”
Jarriel (pictured, second from left) made a name for himself on the network’s fledgling 20/20 news show.
Throughout his more than two decades on the show, Jarriel (left) spoke with numerous public officials. He appears in 1973 interviewing Ted Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald for a news special on the legacy of former President John F. Kennedy.
Throughout his more than two decades at 20/20, Jarriel’s reporting earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including six Emmy Awards.
Jarriel finally retired in 2002.
He now leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Joan, and three children.
‘We honor the depth and breadth of Jarriel’s 38 years at ABC,’ ABC News reported. reported. ‘We celebrate his sense of justice, integrity, but above all, his humanity.
“On and off the air, Jarriel embodied the best of everyone at ABC News.”
Reporters paid their respects to the veteran reporter Thursday night, praising him as a “fearless presence” and “skilled, calm and steady.”
Other journalists also paid their respects to the veteran reporter.
Geraldo Rivera said he was “saddened to hear” of Jarriel’s passing.
“He was an excellent award-winning reporter and a kind colleague at 20/20, a true gentleman,” Rivera published in X.
David Guilbault, former producer for ABC News, CNN and MSNBC.com, also said he had ‘the great privilege of having worked with Tom Jarriel at ABC News.
“For a while I was the lead producer on the weekend newscasts when Tom was anchor,” Guilbault said.
‘Tom was an accomplished broadcast journalist. And he was always a skilled, calm and steady presence.’
Investigative journalist Joseph Trento added that Jarriel was “fearless.”
“It was an honor to meet you,” he wrote.