WWBT’s Gene Cox leaving 11 p.m. newscast
For more than 30 years, Gene Cox has been supplying viewers with late-night news from behind the anchor desk.
Starting tomorrow, Cox will no longer be part of WWBT’s top-rated 11 p.m. newscast with longtime partner Sabrina Squire, but will remain as co-anchor with Squire for the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. broadcasts on WWBT and solo on the CW’s 6:30 p.m. broadcast.
According to WWBT, Cox and Squire are the nation’s longest-running anchor team, together since 1984.
“I think Gene put it best – he wants to go to bed earlier at night,” said Don Richards, general manager of local NBC affiliate WWBT. “He’s going to have some new assignments during the day, and wants to work more dayside and early evening.”
Filling Cox’s 11 p.m. slot will be Curt Autry, who currently co-anchors the 10 p.m. “Fox News at Ten” with Diane Walker.
“Curt has been at the station for 15 years and he’s done a great job not only doing the Fox newscast, but also reporting on our station and doing substitute anchoring when Gene has been out. He and Sabrina work well together. It was a natural decision,” Richards said.
WWBT’s Ryan Nobles will slide into Autry’s vacated position to co-anchor the 10 p.m. newscast with Walker. Nobles will also take over Cox’s 4 p.m. anchoring slot.
In other WWBT news, yesterday was the last day for reporter Ashley Swann; her husband was transferred back to their native Georgia, so she departed the station to leave with him.
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Reader Reactions
I hope this was Gene’s decision and not another moronic, cost-cutting move by the new station owners - The sam egroup that ran the #3 station in the market, then bought the #1 and used their skill to debase WWBT. Gene has been the greatest news anchor in Richmond because he is personable and knowledgeable without the huge ego that usually accompanies the job. Thanks, Gene.
Good luck Gene in retirement or semi retirement for now. You had a good run and should be very proud.
Regards,
For the folks that believe age is the problem here. It is heartbreaking; Robin Meade has a shelf life. Damn!
Yeah BABY, talk about easy one the eyes! Maybe there is hope for Richmond after all; Robin may have a twin sister or a look alike. 12 on your side would never be the same again.
even though I now reside in Williamsburg, VA. I still get WWBT 12 and with Gene Cox at 11:00pm with co-anchor Sabrina Squire at the news desk, I still feel like I’m at home. Gene Cox has been one of the best anchor’s I’ve seen in broadcasting, local or national. I tip my hat to one of the fixtures in the Richmond for the last 30 years. I guess now I’ll be tuning in during the day to continue to watch a professional at work. Thanks Gene.
From somebody who gets to see Gene from time to time out and about in Chesterfield, I’m sure he’s got another few years left, not a few months.
My wife and I enjoy Squire and Autry together, we’ll miss him on the FOX news, but Ryan seems like a nice choice to fill the void.
I’d been expecting this for some time and when Ryan Nobles showed up about a year ago told her that HE would eventually replace Gene if he didn’t find greener pastures before Cox decided to retire. Gene’s smart, getting out while he’s still on top. The print on the teleprompters can only be SO large, and when that starts getting too fuzzy, you know it’s time, and Gene does. He’ll stay around for another few months or a year, then abdicate the early evening anchor chair. He’s good. Always has been, but it’s time.
I always enjoy watching Gene. He is humorous. I remember a couple weeks ago he was telling a story, stumbled a little bit, and said “I can’t read that [the teleprompter], let’s go on to the next story”
I am upset about Ashley Swann, also. She was a babe. Bring in the traffic lady, Tracy Lynn.
Any chance Channel 12 could lure Amanda Meadows, morning traffic reporter on Channel 6, over to be “on my side” at Channel 12 to take Cox’s place? I don’t care if she stumbles all over herself as an anchor… I simply enjoy looking at her.
Gene Cox is an outstanding anchor man. I will miss him. It’s hard to see a excellent anchor team such as Sabrina and Gene. It’s hard to watch other news shows with females with false eyelashes,
bleached hair, budging necklines,and very rude. The younger anchors cannot stand up to Mr Cox. I wish Mr Ccx a great semi- retirement and good health.
You will be missed.Enjoy yours nights.
My mom told be a story about Gene…she met him one time in the late 1970’s at the Big Star grocery store that was accross the street from WWBT…I think it was Big Star…but anyway, he was buying diapers for his baby.
I was flying Cessna’s out of Air Chesterfield in the 80’s when I met Gene. He was taking flying lessons—scroll forward several years. I asked him if he was still flying and he said “no, I quit flying as a public service”. Great line. I reckon he is leaving the 11pm slot as a Gene Cox service this time. But, in the 80’s I’d often see many of the 11pm crew hitting the bars along Midlothian after their show ended…Where are all of the bars now a days????
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