Bill McCreary, one of the first Black television journalists in New York, has died. He was 87.
His wife told the New York Times that he died April 4 of a neurological disease he had for many years. His death was announced this week on Fox-owned WNYW, his former station.
After starting his career at WWRL radio in Queens, N.Y., McCreary joined WNYW in 1967 when it went by the call letters WNEW. One year after being hired as the managing editor and anchor of Black News, he was named co-anchor of The 10 O’Clock News.
“He built Fox 5 The 10 O’Clock News,” said WNYW anchor Rosanna Scotto, who worked with McCreary for years. “He was respected. People believed what he had to say and he worked hard to give you the information that you needed.”
McCreary worked his way up to vp at WNYW and continued working on air until he retired in 2000.
He was best known as the anchor and executive producer of The McCreary Report, where he interviewed newsmakers from around the world including President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks.
“He was a trailblazer,” said former WNYW reporter and anchor Lynne White. “I don’t think there were many Black faces in local news in New York City before he got there.”
McCreary’s former station ran a tribute to him this week. Watch the entire tribute here.