UTICA — Bill Worden, the beloved former anchor for WKTV and the face of local journalism for more than 35 years, has passed away at the age of 80.

Worden is most recognizable to Mohawk Valley residents for his decades of work at WKTV, leading up to his retirement in 2012. Worden sat behind the anchor desk and was a familiar face who delivered local news to televisions across the region.

In the days before 24-hour cable news networks, many families included — and relied upon — Worden’s nightly broadcasts at 6 p.m. in their plans each weeknight.

Worden passed away on Wednesday, March 8.

In an article posted by WKTV, Steve McMurray, vice president and general manager of WKTV, stated “the word ‘icon’ gets thrown around a lot to describe folks whose accomplishments are noteworthy, but Bill earned that title in every sense of the word. His picture still adorns the hallway in our main entrance because, for so many years, Bill was WKTV.”

His passing comes after his wife, Janna, passed away in 2021 and after the publication of his book ‘A Kansas Love Story,’ where he documented the origins of his love for his wife, who originally lived over 1200 miles away from the Mohawk Valley.

“He was the Walter Cronkite of the Utica area. Bill was such a fixture in people’s homes. He was very well liked,” said David Dudajek, a former opinion editor with the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

Dudajek said he started reporting for the Daily Sentinel in the early 1970s, at about the time Worden started at WKTV, and the two newsmen became colleagues.

“He had a very gentle nature about him. He exuded trust,” Dudajek stated. “He was just the kind of guy that you felt very comfortable with.”

Dudajek said Worden’s longevity is sorely missed in the journalism business today.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced at a later date.