Longtime WAFB anchor and investigative reporter Paul Gates announced to viewers this week that he is battling the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, and as a result he will be retiring after 34 years with the Baton Rouge CBS-affiliate (video inside).
“I’m doing just fine,” Gates, 64, told viewers, “and I’m asking you to keep me and my family in your prayers, and always remember: Paul Gates Investigates.”
During his 34 years with WAFB, Gates became well-known for his tenacity in uncovering corruption and wrongdoing in Louisiana. His years of investigative reports, collectively known as “Paul Gates Investigates,” gained him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters.
“Paul has been an important part of the WAFB family and the Baton Rouge community for decades,” WAFB vice president and general manager Sandy Breland said. “He has touched the lives of many through his reporting and his honest, fun-loving demeanor. It has been a privilege and an honor to have Paul as part of our team. I know he will face his illness with the same tenacity he showed throughout his career.”
Here’s Gates’ announcement: