A local television news anchor who was a fixture on morning television in Cincinnati for decades has died.
John Lomax, who worked at WKRC Local 12 as an anchor and reporter for 39 years, including 32 years as co-host of “Good Morning Cincinnati,” died at the age of 72 years old, according to a statement released by his family.
Lomax died of complications from pneumonia, his family told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“We, the Lomax family, have some sad news to share with you all,” the family said in its statement from Wednesday.
“This morning, Coasty Roscoe (a family nickname), husband, dad and certifiably best-ever Pop-pop, unexpectedly passed on to his forever beach in the stars.”
The station mourned Lomax’s passing, calling him “the heart and soul at Local 12 for 40 years.”
Colleagues remembered Lomax as a “mentor” and “a second dad” to the younger reporters who sought his advice.
“When I lost my dad, I would call John instead. He was always there,” Bob Herzog, a newscaster and anchor at Local 12, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Herzog said that Lomax was beloved by everyone at WKRC, whose call letters served as the inspiration for the classic sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati.”
“We referred to his office as the counselor’s office,” Herzog said.
“It was where somebody went to talk through something.”
According to Herzog, Lomax lent a supportive ear “whether you worked with him 18 or 19 years or were the producer who was just hired.”
“He had such a level-headed way about him.”
Lomax, who retired two years ago, said that one of the highlights of his career was covering Super Bowl XXIII in Miami, where his hometown Bengals played the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners beat the Bengal 20-16.
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