Bill Beutel: a remarkable career

  Eyewitness News' N.J. Burkett

(New York-WABC, March 20, 2006) (WABC) -- On Saturday, we here at Eyewitness News lost our dear friend and colleague, Bill Beutel.

He brought the news to you from the anchor desk for more than 30 years -- and he did it with class.

Bill died at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, surrounded by by his wife Adair and his children. He was 75 years old.

Bill stepped down from the anchor desk in 2001 and became a full time correspondent until his retirement in 2003. Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett has more on Bill's remarkable career.

A "gentleman journalist" and a star without a star complex. Bill would never say this himself, but the secret to his success may be that he never talked down to his audience. It may be Bill Beutel's proudest achievement.

No matter where we went today, people stopped us to talk about Bill Beutel.

"He had a common touch with people," one person said.

"He was a star, without a star complex. He was a big man and he felt that everything he said came from his heart. We will miss him," another person said.

He could be the voice of reason, the voice of authority and the voice of compassion. But every night for more than thirty years, he was the voice of New York.

Rev. Al Sharpton: "I think that people would be surprised at how many different people in different communities and different parts of the city will be mourning Bill Beutel because we all felt he told our story."

Sharpton is one of Bill Beutel's greatest admirers.

Sharpton: "He is the kind of guy that tells you the truth whether he liked it or not. He was always fair. He was always straightforward. ... You could put his word in the bank."

Beutel agonized over fairness and accuracy. He could be tough, but never insulting.

Ex-NYC Mayor Ed Koch: "His questions were piercing and provocative ... but he never took advantage of you."

But just as important as Bill's credibility was his sincerity. Advertising executive Jerry Dellafemina created the first TV ads for "Eyewitness News."

Dellafemina: "Bill was a star. He knew he was a star. He was treated like a star. He never really felt like a star. He felt like just another guy. So many anchor people will say thank you for allowing us to be in your living room today ...I think most people believe they knew Bill Beutel. They felt he was part of their family."

The fact is, he was their friend and they knew it. He treated the audience the way he treated the news: with respect and dignity always.

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