By Post Staff

Dennis Richmond, who rose through the ranks from typist to reporter to become KTVU TV’s longest-serving news anchor, died Wednesday. He had suffered a heart attack two months ago.

Richmond was one of the first African Americans to anchor a mainstream TV news station when he got his start in 1976, and even more rare was staying on the air for 36 years.

The 81-year-old Ohio native, known for his calm baritone and signature mustache, was much admired by colleagues, elected officials and, most of all, his viewers.

“Dennis was a strong presence in the KTVU newsroom for decades, guiding the team and setting high standards for himself and his colleagues in everything they did,” the channel’s general manager Mellynda Hartel said. “His impact is still felt in the KTVU newsroom today.”

Former Congresswoman and current Oakland mayoral candidate Barbara Lee said that Richmond’s loss “is felt by all of us.

“I join so many in Oakland in mourning the passing of Dennis Richmond — a legend, trailblazer and dear friend,” Lee wrote on social media. “For decades, he was the voice who shined a light on our city, breaking barriers in broadcast news.”

When heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974, and put on trial two years later, Richmond handled the celebrity crime story with a seeming ease. In 1978, he similarly handled the assassinations of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone for an audience that was in shock.

And 11 years later, his most important audience was survivors of the Loma Prieta earthquake who, listening on battery-operated radios, trusted Richmond to provide information and instructions on what to do.

Over the years he became known as a ‘dean’ of television news, mentoring many who came behind him. Among them was Darren Zulberti, a  KTVU assistant news director.

“He always reminded me and those around him to treat the viewer with respect, reporting oftentimes difficult news in uncertain times with clarity, context and straightforward delivery,” Zulberti said in a KTVU news story.

When he retired in 2006 on his 65^th birthday, Richmond’s audience surpassed Oprah Winfrey’s with 400,000 viewers. The winner of several awards, among them the Humanitarian Award, Oakland’s highest honor, Richmond appeared in four movies where he played a news anchor.

According to the Mercury News, Richmond gave no credit to himself. “What makes me proud is that if the rest of the people hadn’t pulled together, I’d have fallen flat on my face.”

Richmond grew up on Rossford, Ohio, served in the Army with the 82^nd Airborne Division and graduated from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 1969 while he was already employed at KTVU.

During his years on television, Richmond lived in San Ramon, but moved to Grass Valley after he retired. He passed away there on Feb. 5 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Deborah, a daughter, and a stepson.

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