Ed Hughes

Who was Ed Hughes?

Edward F. Hughes was a longtime news anchor for WTKR from 1967 until shortly before his death in 2004. In addition, he was also the morning news anchor at radio station Z-104 for a time during the 1980s. Hughes was a former Navy veteran. Hughes was a trusted anchor for 37 years, known for his ability to report a story in an unbiased fashion that did not favor one side over another. He never embellished a story or sensationalized it for the sake of ratings or to get attention. Hughes won numerous awards for journalism and broadcasting during his career, and especially enjoyed reporting on military news. Hughes was the inspiration for the creation of "WSHS TV," a news-like TV club at local Smithfield High School founded in 1991 by two senior school students. He died from cancer on June 1, 2004, at the age of 66.

He was often referred to as the "Walter Cronkite of Hampton Roads." Though, most would say, Walter Cronkite was the Ed Hughes of America.