Sinclair’s San Antonio news community is honoring a longtime photojournalist who died suddenly this week.
George Atkins, who worked for WOIA and KABB, died suddenly on Wednesday morning. He was a morning photographer for KABB, and was instrumental in launching the news department at the station after KABB beme a Fox affiliate in 1995. He had been with the station for nearly 30 years, and also worked in the evenings.
“Every time you saw him, he had a smile on his face, he was such a sweet guy — and made all of us in the newsroom laugh,” according to WOIA. “He will be missed by all of us here at News 4 and Fox San Antonio.”
Journalists who worked with Atkins shared stories and remembered him on social media.
“It’s made all of us at the station very sad,” wrote anchor and news reporter Robert Price. “I’m really going to miss him. RIP George.”
George Atkins died this morning. The news is very sudden. Very shocking. And it’s made all of us at the station very sad. I’m really going to miss him. RIP George. pic.twitter.com/4THccPYCjn
— Robert Price (@RobertPriceTV) November 4, 2020
News 4 producer Lynette Vega asked for prayers. “If you are the praying kind, please say a prayer for George tonight and all those who loved him,” she wrote.
My work family at @News4SA and @KABBFOX29 has lost one of our own. Our photojournalist, George Atkins, has passed away suddenly. If you are the praying kind, please say a prayer for George tonight and all those who loved him. 🙏❤️ https://t.co/ci4JlC0Mtk
— Lynette Vega (@VegaLynette) November 5, 2020
Few details about Atkins death, including cause of death, were released.