KAKE Anchor Larry Hatteberg To Sign Off

After a 51-year career at Gray Television’s ABC affiliate KAKE Wichita, Kan., Larry Hatteberg announced today he’s stepping down from the anchor desk.  His last show will be the 10 p.. newscast on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

“KAKE TV is the only job I’ve had in my adult life,” Hatteberg said.  “But five decades is long enough even at the job I love. At this point in my career, I’m looking for a bit more freedom to pursue the video and still photography projects that I want, without the deadlines that TV news brings.”

A native of Kansas, he began his television career with KAKE on May 23, 1963.

“It’s a rare honor to work with an anchor who has distinguished himself throughout his career in so many ways for so many years,” said Dan Wall, KAKE GM. “His ability to find ordinary people with extraordinary stories allowed him to develop a personal relationship with Kansas viewers. We can’t thank him enough for the contributions he’s made to local television.”

Hatteberg has received more than 130 local, state and national awards for news photography and reporting and is Kansas’ most honored journalist. His Hatteberg’s People video series has profiled more than 1,000 Kansans since its inception in 1974. He’s held nearly every position in the KAKE newsroom and currently co-anchors KAKE’s evening newscasts with Susan Peters.

He grew up in Winfield, Kan., and graduated from Winfield High School. He attended Kansas State Teachers College and Wichita State University before starting at KAKE.