Tom Jarriel, former ABC News correspondent and anchor, dies at 89

Tom Jarriel, a former ABC News correspondent and anchor whose impactful reporting earned him numerous awards, has died at age 89.

During his 38 years at the network, Jarriel was the type of person and journalist that many at ABC wanted to be.

For America, he was a trusted reporter, correspondent and anchor. At ABC he was a beloved colleague, mentor and friend.

Jarriel was born in Georgia and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1958, he began his career in broadcast journalism at KPRC in Houston.

Jarriel joined ABC News in 1965.

Through his reporting on the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King quickly gained national attention.

It didn't take long for Jarriel's talent to be recognized and rewarded. In 1969, he was appointed chief White House correspondent, overseeing both Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

The year 1979 proved to be a pivotal year in Jarriel's career. He was named anchor of ABC's Weekend Report and joined ABC's fledgling primetime newsmagazine 20/20.

Year after year, Jarriel contributed powerful reports ranging from criminal justice reform to accountability of our leaders, but it was his series of reports on the suffering of children suffering in Romanian orphanages that Jarriel remembers as the “great, formative History” recalled his career.

Over the course of more than two decades at 20/20, Jarriel's impactful reporting earned him numerous awards, including six Emmy awards before his retirement in 2002.

We honor the depth and breadth of Jarriel's 38 years at ABC. We celebrate his sense of fairness, his integrity, but above all his humanity.

On and off the air, Jarriel embodied the best of everyone at ABC News.

Jarriel is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Joan, and his three sons.