Craig Ford has retired from WTVA after more than 25 years.
Ford was the assistant news director and anchor at the Tupelo, Mississippi ABC and NBC affiliate.
In his on air goodbye, he talked about his cancer diagnosis and surgery in 2023 where he was off the air for before coming back in March 2024. He said the doctors removed most but not all of the cancer.
“I was recently reminded to enjoy life now in case I have to go back for more surgery or treatment,” he said. “But before I go, I can’t leave without saying ‘Thank you,’ because you gave me a career at a great television station that lasted a good part of my life. You gave me an opportunity to work with some of the best people in broadcasting, in journalism, and you gave me time out of your day to watch, to listen to read some of my work. You did that. And because of that I will always be grateful.”
Ford helped launch the 9 p.m. news on what was then WLOV in December 1999 and added anchor duties at WTVA in July 2001.Before coming to Tupelo, Ford was news director and 6 p.m. anchor for CBS affiliate WHLT in Hattiesburg-Laurel. He’s also worked in radio at KTRH-AM in Houston, Texas; WWL-TV and WWL-AM in New Orleans; WBBN-FM in Laurel-Hattiesburg where he was news director.
WTVA was founded by the late Frank Spain in 1957, and the NBC and ABC affiliate stayed in the Spain family until 2014, when it was sold to Atlanta-based Heartland Media and MSouth Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Jane Spain, Frank’s widow, has fond memories of Ford.
“I have nothing but deep admiration and appreciation for Craig,” she said. “He is a rare person in any industry, but especially broadcasting. If there is anything that needs to be done, he’s doing it. He’s a consummate professional, and I wish there had been more time for him to go out and develop series and stories because when he did, they were superbly done. I have the deepest respect for him.”
