By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

Kennie Bass, who was a fixture of news in the region for decades as a reporter and anchor, has died.

Bass, a longtime investigative journalist and anchor at WCHS, Sinclair’s ABC and Fox affiliate in Charleston, West Virginia, died Tuesday evening following a battle with cancer. He was 62.

The West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame member started his career before he even got to college, filing high school football reports for local radio stations, according to the station.

Bass was a proud graduate of Marshall University and enjoyed covering the Thundering Herd.

Shortly after, he was coming into your living room on a nightly basis to tell you all about the happenings of sports around the Tri-State. In his role as a television sportscaster, he would take that passion for high school football to a whole new level.

The pinnacle for Bass came in 1998 when he covered his beloved Nitro Wildcats in the record-breaking Class AAA state championship victory over Morgantown at Wheeling Island Stadium.

But by then, high school football was simply a sidebar for Kennie’s daily broadcasting life – which would evolve into an award-winning career.

Bass tackled important issues in the Mountain State, holding many accountable through his investigative reporting, including the West Virginia Supreme Court, RISE and the West Virginia State Police.

A lot of those stories came from tips provided by you, the viewer, whose trust Bass earned over time through his stories and passion. Those stories would lead to a truckload of honors, including his hall of fame induction.

While working the big stories, Bass still loved the lighter side, enjoying being a part of what started it all – high school football. He was a fixture on WCHS’ Friday Night Football Extra show and was a hit each and every week.

Not only is he a brilliant performer on the air, but he was also a staple in local acting circles, where he took great pleasure showcasing area plays with his “On Stage” segment.

A movie buff since his childhood, Bass also enjoyed keeping viewers informed with what was playing at local theatres with “Screen Gems,” and he never shied away from a chance to emcee an event or sing the national anthem.

Bass left WCHS in January 2025, but remained a part of the WCHS family, keeping in contact with former coworkers up until his passing.

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