Former Phoenix Anchor Bill Close Dies at 91

Bill Close, a longtime anchor at KSAZ (then KOOL) in Phoenix, died Sunday at 91.

Close, who KSAZ calls “the Walter Cronkite of Phoenix,” was best known for an on-air incident in 1982 when a gunman entered the KOOL studios and held Close and his camera man, Louie Villa, hostage for five hours. Close negotiated with the gunman and read a “rambling” statement from him. The gunman eventually surrendered.

Watch KSAZ’s look back at his life after the jump.