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Jim Donovan saying goodbye to TV, but will remain radio voice of the Cleveland Browns
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- Jim Donovan saying goodbye to TV, but will remain radio voice of the Cleveland Browns
Jim Donovan
Long-time Cleveland sports reporter and television news anchor Jim Donovan is retiring from WKYC June 10, the station announced Thursday.
Donovan, 67, won't retire entirely, however.
He will continue serving as the Cleveland Browns radio play-by-play announcer, a position he's held since the Browns returned to the city in 1999.
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"I haven't called a Browns Super Bowl win yet…but I'll continue to call the games this fall so there's always hope," Donovan said in a press release about his retirement.
WKYC President & GM Micki Byrnes said Donovan's career is one of the most "illustrious" of any local broadcaster across the country.
"It's hard to believe he's really stepping down, but we can all agree he's accomplished just about every milestone that a sports and news anchor would wish for," Byrnes said in a statement.
Jim Donovan, WKYC, 1993.
Donovan has accumulated many awards during his career, including several Emmys, the Cleveland Press Club All-Ohio Best Sportscaster and places in the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame.
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While based at WKYC, Donovan also took on national roles, including play-by-play for NBC Sports' NFL coverage from 1987 to 1997, swimming and soccer play-by-play in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics, and World Cup Soccer in 1994.
"It's been an amazing run, and I am so thankful for the support from our viewers, Browns fans, my colleagues and all who have been a part of the journey," Donovan said, adding that he's looking forward to spending more time with his family.
WKYC launched an email account where Donovan fans can send messages to wish him well: goodluckjimmy@wkyc.com.
Thursday's announcement makes no mention of Donovan's health.
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Donovan has been open with the public about his cancer battle since first being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2000.
In recent years, he had received various treatments for leukemia and stepped away for a couple of months in 2023 when his treatment plan changed and became more aggressive.
He returned to WKYC and the to radio announcin g the Browns games in November. Three months later, Donovan announced he had finished radiation treatments and was moving on to another phase of his medical care.
Donovan, a graduate of Boston University, has been at WKYC since 1985.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jim Donovan retiring from WKYC but will still call Browns games
