California News Anchor Dick Cable Passes Away at 89
Dick Cable, a cherished news anchor from California, died on Wednesday following an illness. He was 89.
Cable was a fixture in Sacramento’s news scene, serving as the anchor for KXTV for three decades.
Born Richard Arnold Cable in New York on June 23, 1936, he followed his father, Homer Cable, who worked for the military news service Stars and Stripes during and after World War II.
He joined what was then CBS affiliate Sacramento News 10 in January 1969. A few years after starting, he met his wife, Berta Gonzalez Cable, when she interned at the station in 1973.
The couple married in 1977 and raised five children from Dick’s previous marriage.
His career wasn’t always smooth sailing. In the late 1970s, he stepped away from anchoring to focus on youth activism, returning to the screen in 1981. At the time, he stated, “I’m not a flower that wilts. I have a healthy ego, maybe even an unhealthy one, but one thing the station needs to know is that I work here.”
Longtime co-anchor Jennifer Smith, who now resides in New Orleans, remembered Cock Cable fondly. She described him as being warm and down-to-earth, contrasting him with other TV anchors often seen as arrogant.
A Facebook post from News10KXTV announced Cable’s passing, expressing sadness and sharing memories. “Dick was such a wonderful person, friend, and colleague,” the post read. It further noted how he often shared light-hearted jokes with friends.
Many expressed their condolences and shared heartfelt memories, recalling not only professional moments but personal ones as well. One person spoke of the many shared experiences, from Halloween events to family dinners, highlighting how much he would be missed.
Stan Atkinson, another prominent figure in Sacramento television, remarked on Cable’s integrity in a past interview, emphasizing the importance of trust and character in journalism.
Lisa Omega, President and General Manager of ABC10, stated, “Dick left a legacy on this building and this town.” He is survived by his wife, five children, and ten grandchildren.
