Central Texas broadcasting veteran, Kris Radcliffe, passed away on Wednesday, October 30 in Temple, Texas, at the age of 51.
His death was announced on air during the Wednesday evening broadcast of KCEN 6 News, an NBC affiliate that serves the Waco-Temple-Killeen area in Texas, by co-anchor Lindsay Liepman. Liepman, visibly emotional, described Radcliffe as “the best”, “funny, genuine and smart.”
Radcliffe’s journalism career at KCEN started in 2002 as a sports anchor. He later transitioned to host “Texas Today,” the station’s morning show, before eventually serving as an evening news anchor.
During his 22-year stint at the station, Radcliffe covered major regional incidents, such as the Baylor Men’s Basketball scandal, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, two shootings at Fort Hood, and the West Fertilizer Plant explosion. He also produced and hosted a weekly segment named “Money Talks,” focusing on financial education, for 200 episodes.
Among his professional accolades, Radcliffe won the “Waco Tribune-Herald On-Air Television Personality of the Year” award six times in a row from 2016 to 2021. He was also the recipient of an Associated Press Award for “Best Morning Newscast” in 2016.
Reacting to Radcliffe’s death, Rob Dwyer, President and General Manager of KCEN/KAGS, said in a statement, “Kris was a kind and generous person who elevated everyone he was around. It is hard to say goodbye.”
Radcliffe, originally from Torrance, California, earned his degree from California State University at Long Beach. Before joining KCEN, he worked in Nebraska and California. His father, John, was the official scorekeeper at home games for the Los Angeles Lakers for 48 years.
His wife, Eden Radcliffe, expressed her gratitude for the community’s support through her sister.
Radcliffe leaves behind his wife, two daughters Victoria and Courtney, and two grandchildren. The family has asked for privacy, and there has been no announcement regarding the cause of his death.
