Twenty-year news anchor of LEX 18 to retire at end of August

After 20 years on the air, Kevin Christopher — the news anchor of LEX 18, NBC’s affiliate in Lexington — will retire on at the end of August.

“When you think of a news anchor, you think Kevin Christopher,” LEX 18 Chief Meteorologist Bill Meck said. “His news sense and knowledge, along with his leadership, have helped guide us. For 20 years we’ve been a team.”

According to a release from LEX 18, Christopher’s career in broadcasting began in 1980 when he signed on as a news anchor for Turner Broadcasting, working as a sports anchor for TBS Evening News. After TBS, Christopher worked as a correspondent for the Sports News Network in Washington, D.C., Sports Director for New York’s WLNY-TV and as a columnist for the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey.

In October of 2000, Christopher came to LEX 18.

“This has been a great run and the most rewarding time in my 40 years in broadcasting,” Christopher said in the release. “I’ve been blessed to spend the last half of my television news career at LEX 18.”

Christopher, along with Meck and co-anchor Nancy Cox, comprise the longest-running news team in Lexington TV.

“I want to thank Kevin for his commitment to the mission we started and accomplished — to reach our community with service and information to help them build better lives,” Cox said in the release.

In 2001, NBC took over broadcasting the Kentucky Derby and LEX 18 was also there, bringing viewers all-day coverage. In the release, Christopher said this coverage was one of the highlights of his career.

“I wrote, produced and narrated what would be the first of 18 Derby Opens I would do over the years,” Christopher said. “Setting the scene for our viewers on Derby Day will remain one of the high points of my broadcast career.”

In the release, Christopher outlined his plans for retirement.

“It’s a good time to get lost in the tropics, brush up on my sailing and saltwater fishing skills and reduce my wardrobe to shorts, t-shirts and deck shoes,” Christopher said.

This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Twenty-year news anchor of LEX 18 to retire at end of August."