DAYTON, OHIO — From 1987 to 2002, Ken Jefferson was a household name for many viewers across the “Gem City” and much of this corner of the Buckeye State.
Jefferson was an award-winning reporter and anchor at Cox Media Group‘s CBS affiliated WHIO-7, before taking jobs at ABC affiliated WWSB-7 in Sarasota, Fla., and at NBC affiliated WVIR-29 in Charlottesville, Va. — a job he took for family reasons.
Media and viewers in these three markets are now mourning the sudden loss of Jefferson, who died during the weekend of March 3 after a brief and unexpected illness.
At WHIO, Jefferson was the Noon anchor. Upon his departure, he was given a proclamation by the mayor of Dayton for naming the occasion “Ken Jefferson Day.”
Jefferson’s next stop was WWSB, a station viewed by many “snowbirds” from Ohio, where his face was familiar to many viewers in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas. Jefferson spent 7 years at WWSB, before taking a short assignment as a Media Consultant for Sarasota County Government.
In July 2011, he decided that being closer to his family in Petersburg, Va., was most important. Jefferson packed his bags, and accepted a role at WVIR, where he served as the station’s sunrise and noon anchor.
In a brief story on the WVIR website, the Waterman Broadcasting station said, “Ken was a true newsman and broadcaster who adored his job. He was also a remarkable musician, photographer, friend, and dog lover.”
WVIR adds that Jefferson began his broadcasting career with a pirate radio station, as a boy.
Jefferson was 65 years old. Memorial plans are still being finalized as of this writing.
