The National Association of Hispanic Journalists mourns the passing of TV legend Tony Valdez, who died at the age of 78 in Los Angeles. Tony was a pioneer who helped break down barriers for Chicano, Latino and other journalists of color.
His career spanned four decades in Los Angeles. He was a Vietnam veteran and a proud native Angeleno. He often recounted how he shined shoes as a boy in downtown LA, before becoming a reporter. He was deeply admired for his tenacity and fairness as a journalist. He was known for mentoring and fighting for colleagues. After retiring in 2016, he chaired the 8 Ball Foundation, which gave scholarships and grants to journalists facing economic hardship.
Tony shared his proud traditions with his newsrooms, bringing tamales for colleagues every Christmas. It’s become a beloved tradition, which is now carried on by his friends at KTTV-FOXLA. He is survived by his son, Steve, and three grandchildren. Tony is remembered by countless journalists who he has helped along the way.