WKBN Mourns Death of News Director Gary Coursen
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- WKBN announced this afternoon that its longtime news director, Gary Coursen, died shortly after noon at University Hospitals in Cleveland. He was 55.
Coursen was diagnosed with cancer this summer that was centered around his nasal area and had moved to his brain. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation and then, on Thursday, an operation to remove the cancer. The operation was first deemed a success but Coursen went into a deep coma over the weekend.
Coursen began his career at WKBN-TV in 1979 as a news photographer after graduating from Hubbard High School and Youngstown State University. He was on the scene when the steel mills shutdown, for Jim Traficant's first trial, and the tornado of 1985, according to WKBN. He later became WKBN's chief photographer and in 2003 was named news director.
Outside of news, Coursen loved the outdoors. He was a biker, hiker, and kayaker. He had been to many of America's National Parks. Most recently, he and his wife Becky flew to Washington D.C. and biked back home, according to WKBN's website.
One of his greatest professional achievements, the station noted in its announcement, was as architect of the 2007 merger of the WKBN and WYTV news departments.
Coursen died with his family at his side.
He was well liked and greatly respected by the Mahoning Valley's journalism community.
WKBN, WYTV and WYFX will broadcast a video tribute tonight on their newscasts.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
SOURCE: WKBN.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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