Kent Dana, who worked at three Phoenix stations during his 30 year career has died. He was 80.
Dana, who azcentral called “one of the most popular anchors in Phoenix news history” died Tuesday from an infection that developed after he broke his hip in January.
He grew up around local TV. His father, Joe, launched a weekly show called Arizona Caravan on KPHO where he talked about the news, sang songs and had musical guests. Kent’s son Joe has worked for KPNX as an anchor and reporter for 20 years.
“He always felt like local TV news provided a connection to the community that was unlike anything else,” said Joe Dana. “And I think the fact that he was doing this job in the community where he grew up made it that much more meaningful to him.”
Kent Dana started his career after college working at KOOL, which is now Fox-owned station KSAZ. In 1979, he joined NBC affiliate KPNX where he worked until 2004. A year later, he joined KPHO and worked there until his retirement in 2011.
“There’s a reason he was the most beloved anchor of his time,” said Lin Sue Flood, who worked with Dana at KPNX. “That was because he was genuinely sweet and kind. That transcended his personal life and went into the way he did his job. As a co-anchor he was sharing and very supportive. None of this macho persona about him. He was just an equal partner.”