Longtime KOMO anchor Dan Lewis has announced he is leaving the Seattle ABC affiliate.
“Coming to Seattle 27 years ago was the best move I ever made,” Lewis told newsroom staffers Wednesday. “KOMO has been a wonderful place to work and this community is just amazing. It’s a difficult decision that has been two years in the making.”
Lewis started working at KOMO in 1987. One year after arriving, he was paired with Kathi Goertzen. The two worked together for nearly 25 years until Goertzen’s death from brain tumors.
During his four decades in TV news, Lewis covered some of the biggest stories of our time. From the Pang Warehouse fire to the Nisqually earthquake and recently the crash of the KOMO 4 helicopter. Viewers across Washington have come to rely on Lewis for their news.
“Television news,” he told the staff Wednesday, “has been my passion for four decades. To this day I love my job but I just feel like I need a break from the news.”
Lewis went on to say “The most difficult part for me will be not seeing and working with all of you, my KOMO colleagues on a daily basis. This is the hardest working, most dedicated and compassionate team you can imagine.”
Vice President and General Manager of Sinclair’s Seattle properties Janene Drafs has worked with Lewis for 25 years. She says when he walks away from the anchor desk on May 28th, he won’t be walking away from KOMO for good.
“We all love Dan and can’t imagine him not returning to KOMO from time to time for special projects. He’s an avid golfer who keeps saying ‘there are too many courses and too little time!’ I’m sure he’ll travel the country playing a bunch of them but his heart will bring him home,” Drafs said.