Tony Gaskins, former reporter for Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS, died Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack Sunday.
Gaskins, who was remembered by colleagues for his deep voice and the unique way in which he said the word ‘news’ in his sign-off, reported for WEWS from 1988 until 2006.
During the station’s 5:00 p.m. newscast and on its website, WEWS anchor Leon Bibb remembered Gaskins as the consummate reporter.
Tony was the kind of reporter every news director wants on the street. He could dig for the facts of a breaking news story, get the story written, meet the deadline for the story, and present it on camera in a calm and professional manner. From 1988 to 2006, Tony covered ever manner of story in northeast Ohio.
Gaskins started his career in radio in Harrisburg, PA. After leaving WEWS in 2006, he went to work for the City of Cleveland as a producer and anchor for the City’s cable channel, TV20. He also worked on the channel’s weekly public affairs programs, “Issues and Answers” and was co-host of the station’s “Weekly News Wrap-Up.”
Bibb also remembered Gaskins as a”fine news reporter.”
Once again, that beautiful voice flowed from the loudspeakers almost like music. He was a general assignment reporter with remarkable ability to get the facts straight, write the story under the pressures of deadlines to have it ready in time for broadcast, and tell the story in an interesting way.
Gaskins was 56.
Here’s a video of Gaskins from the WEWS archives: