Pittsburgh has recently lost a cherished person from its rich heritage: Bill Burns, whom some regard as the region's first and foremost TV anchor, passed away on Tuesday, September 16th.

Over the course of three and a half decades (from July 19th, 1953 to his retirement January 3rd, 1989) Burns had an uncanny ability to attract audiences for his KDKA-TV news shows. Burns served as a TV anchor here longer than any other person in the United States.

The first Pittsburgh reporter to cover news at the scene for radio and television, Burns died of pneumonia in St. Francis Medical Center.

In October, Burns will be honored with the prestige associated with being inducted into the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His daughter, former KDKA anchor Patti Burns, will make the delivery speech.

Hailed by many as the most popular news anchor in Pittsburgh history, Bill Burns passed away at 84.

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