Veteran ABC News Anchor Tom Jarriel Dies at 89

Tom Jarriel, a long-serving correspondent and anchor for ABC News, passed away at the age of 89, his family announced on Thursday. Jarriel, known for his incisive reporting and calm demeanor, had a career spanning more than four decades in broadcast journalism.

Born in LaGrange, Georgia, in 1934, Jarriel was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He began his journalism career in 1958 at KPRC, a local station in Houston, Texas. From those early days in local news, he quickly established a reputation for sharp reporting and a dedication to the truth.

Jarriel joined ABC News in 1965, where he soon gained national recognition for his coverage of significant events, including the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. His thorough and sensitive reporting on this pivotal moment in American history marked him as one of the network’s rising stars.

By 1969, Jarriel was promoted to Chief White House Correspondent, covering the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. His ability to navigate the complexities of Washington politics while delivering clear, concise reports solidified his place as one of the most respected voices in political journalism. He once described this time as “both exhilarating and exhausting,” a period marked by intense public interest and significant political turbulence.

In 1979, Jarriel’s career took another leap when he was named anchor of ABC’s Weekend Report and joined the newly launched primetime news magazine 20/20. The show would become a cornerstone of his career, allowing him to cover a broad range of investigative stories and human-interest pieces.

Among his most impactful reports for 20/20 was an in-depth investigation into the sexual abuse of female members of the U.S. military. The groundbreaking series brought attention to a largely overlooked issue and sparked widespread discussions on military justice and accountability.

Jarriel often cited his series of reports on the dire conditions of Romanian orphanages in the late 1980s as the “defining story” of his career. “It was heartbreaking to see children living in such inhumane conditions,” Jarriel said in a 1992 interview. “That story changed me, and I think it changed the way many people viewed the world.”

During his more than 20 years with 20/20, Jarriel’s journalistic excellence earned him numerous awards, including six Emmys. His peers and audiences alike praised his unwavering commitment to honest reporting and his ability to bring humanity to difficult stories. He retired from ABC in 2002.

Jarriel is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan, and their three sons. His legacy as a dedicated journalist and compassionate storyteller will endure.