Former WWJ News Director, Anchor Don Patrick Has Died

DETROIT (WWJ) - Don Patrick, a longtime news anchor and news director at WWJ has passed away at the age of 75.

Former Newsradio 950 morning anchor Joe Donovan shared the microphone with Patrick for 14 years -- Donovan was an admirer before he ever started working here.

"I first heard Don Patrick's voice - when I was still just a bright-eyed up-and-comer with a million dreams from Wheeling, West Virgina and he was 'Don Patrick CKLW 20-20 News,' and I would hear that and say you know, maybe that could be me one day. True Story," said Donovan.

Donovan co-anchored with Patrick from 1977 to 1991 and marveled at all he was able to accomplish.

"Don also, for the longest time, handled the news director's duties," said Donovan. "A herculean task doing ... five hours of on the air all news anchoring and then having to run the radio station's newsroom for the much of rest of the day.

"How much laughing we did between news segments - that is to say - when the microphones were closed - because Don had a great sense of humor, and of course, when you are chronicling the facts and foibles of human nature in an all-news format, there is never any lack of things to talk about and marvel at."

Don Patrick had suffered from cancer and died Wednesday morning in Tennessee.