Washington D.C. Mourns and Remembers News Anchor Jim Vance
Jim Vance, the most famous person in Washington D.C. that was not famous nationally, has died at the age of 75 after a brief battle with cancer.
Jim Vance was always the coolest and even the smartest dude in the room doing the news. Like your favorite uncle. Just hanging out. Talking. Just cool. Whenever visiting the DC area, catching the news on Channel 4 with Jim Vance was always a treat. He was one of the first Black news anchor in any major American city. He stayed at Channel 4 for 48 years. For many he's been there all of our lives. He was a pioneer and will always be a DC legend.
It pains me to say my very good friend Jim Vance has died.— Donnie Simpson (@DonnieSimpson) July 22, 2017
My deepest sympathy to his family, friends, & fans.https://t.co/Y9je7LCfHP
Prayers and condolences to the family of Jim Vance, a DC legend. You will be missed. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Ri6gX2OjjD— Cathy Hughes (@urbanmediamaven) July 22, 2017
RIP, Vance. There will never be another like him. https://t.co/r1WYBEN7k5 via @nbcwashington— Troy Johnson (@Troy_Johnson) July 22, 2017
FROM NBC 4 WRC-TV-- For 48 years at NBC4, Jim Vance’s smooth voice and calm presence made viewers feel that, no matter how bad the news was, it would be OK.#JimVance will ALWAYS be the Gold Standard of Washington, DC News. #RIP to an original, unapologetic talent ❤️ https://t.co/NCHqDFTK3N— Allison Seymour (@Fox5DCAllison) July 22, 2017
Before becoming a journalist, Vance was a teacher in his hometown of Philadelphia. (Vance earned his teaching degree from Cheyney University. While teaching he simultaneously worked at legendary Black radio station 1340 AM WHAT and was a reporter for Channel 48 WKBS-TV) He started reporting at WRC-TV in Washington in 1969. He was an only child, but Vance always contended he never knew that. His grandparents had 16 kids, so there were always young people around Vance’s early life.
Vance made a name for himself covering stories all over the world, including Vietnam, El Salvador and South Africa. But he didn’t have to go far for some of his best work: reporting on the people in his beloved adopted hometown of Washington.
Read more of [this story] and see the [photo gallery] of Jim Vance.
From 2007 - with Big Tigger and the late The Mighty Burner Bobby Bennett on Hip Hop/Rap music lyrics
lighter moments with sports anchor George Michael [...]
A look back at Jim Vance's career at WRC-TV. At the time he had been at the station for 45 years having started as a reporter in 1969.
We mourn the loss of Jim Vance, a DC icon who will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/hwZVGFo418— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 22, 2017
We love you, Vance!!!!— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) June 23, 2017
We’re thrilled to see our very own Jim Vance on the Ben’s Chili Bowl mural! https://t.co/gJFSrWRgZ4 pic.twitter.com/Dhb5e7x1VG
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Vance and @nbcwashington families. We lost a true D.C. icon today. pic.twitter.com/8JNA70qQ8g— Ben's Chili Bowl (@benschilibowl) July 22, 2017
Radio legend Donnie Simpson and legendary local news anchor Maureen Bunyan share their memories.
Sitting next to him one last time... pic.twitter.com/TQnRRUFhVk— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) July 23, 2017
David Aldridge, reporter for the NBA on TNT, NBA.com, and Hall of Fame Basketball Writer shares his thoughts as a native Washingtonian on the impact of Jim Vance on his life.
So many people pass through D.C.—for work, or college—but few actually are from here and make their lives here. For those of us from here— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
Jim Vance was part of the family. Growing up here, it wasn’t at all odd to me to see a black face on TV every night. Whether it was Vance,— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
Maureen Bunyan, J.C. Hayward, Angela Owens, Bob Strickland, Bruce Johnson, etc., they were always on the air. Only when I became an adult— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
did I realize how rare that was. Black kids in D.C. never knew it was odd that black people were on TV. Do you know how empowering that is?— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
But Vance and Maureen towered above everyone else. They were so polished, so cool, so authoritative, and such role models for all of us.— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
It was just so comforting to see their faces on the screen, day after day, with the rest of the “family”: George Michael and Gordon Peterson— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
Doreen Gentzler and Bob Ryan and Glenn Brenner and Frank Herzog and so many others. But Vance was the leader of the pack. Saw him one night— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
At Takoma Station in N.W. D.C. and thought I was going to lose my mind. Met him several times over the years and he was just…so…damn…cool.— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
For those of us from the real D.C.—not the federal government or its satellites—Jim Vance was a towering figure, and he’ll be missed. RIP.— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 22, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment
Add your comments to this post. You may comment anonymously.
Comments with links to other websites and with inappropriate language will not be published.
Please share this story on your social media pages. Thank you.
Click on Enter Comment to begin.