WTVY news director Jeff Raker collapsed and died while at work Friday morning, according to the Dothan Eagle. He was 56.
Raker joined the Dothan, Ala. CBS affiliate in April 2012 as news director. He had previously worked at WTVY as news director from 1997-99.
“I know he was proud of the work being done here and was excited to be a part of the growth of this station. We will miss him and we will do our best to continue to make him proud,” general manager Mike Smith said in a statement.
“In my 20 years of knowing Jeff, many of them working with him, I found him to be the consummate professional,” anchor Reginald Jones told the Dothan Eagle.
Raker is a former news director at KMEG-KPTH in Sioux City, Iowa, KRCG in Jefferson City, Mo., and WYTV in Youngstown, Ohio.