LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kevin Christopher did his best to keep his emotions together at the end of Friday's 6 p.m. newscast, but couldn't help but to choke up a bit as he mustered out his final words on-air.
It marked the final time Christopher would sign off as LEX 18's News Anchor, ending a 20-year run dating back to the beginning of the millennium. The news veteran announced his retirement at the beginning of the month.
"I've been blessed with a remarkable 40-year run in broadcasting, the last 20 of which has been here at LEX 18" Christopher said at the end of his final newscast. "I'm extremely proud of what we have accomplished over the years. I am grateful for my friends and colleagues here, and I really hope you'll continue to count on them for the stories that shape our lives. They do incredible work, and I've never worked with anyone that works harder."
Christopher, along with co-anchor Nancy Cox and Chief Meteorologist Bill Meck, made up the longest running news team in the Lexington market.
Christopher began his TV career in 1980 when he signed on as the Sports Anchor for Turner Broadcasting's TBS Evening News. For the next seven years he was the main TBS Sports studio anchor for Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Hawks basketball, NBA basketball, SEC College football and the Sunday night Coors Sports Page highlight show, as well as a contributor to CNN and Headline News.
While at TBS, Christopher produced and reported “When the Cheering Stops.” an in-depth story on former Miami Dolphins star Mercury Morris, who was convicted and imprisoned under Florida’s ‘minimum mandatory’ drug law. The report not only earned Christopher his first Emmy.
“But more importantly, the findings from that story were later introduced in Morris’ appeal... and he was eventually released from prison for time served," Christopher noted.
During the 1990’s Christopher did double duty as an anchor and national correspondent for Washington DC’s Sports News Network, Sports Director for New York’s WLNY-TV, and columnist for the Asbury Park Press, the second largest daily newspaper in his home state of New Jersey. In 1995, he made the move to television news full-time as a bureau chief and evening anchor at Cablevision’s 24-hour news channel, News 12 New Jersey.
In March of 1997 Christopher headed to Florida’s capital to help resurrect the news division at WTWC-NBC 40 in Tallahassee. He spent over three years there as main anchor, managing editor, political talk show host before joining LEX 18 in October 2000.
"Lastly, I want to thank you, our viewers, for inviting me into your homes each night," Christopher finalized. "Now, it is time for me to go home to my family. I wish you all the best. Stay safe and well, thanks for watching."
