Bill Ratliff, the former news anchor for WFLA Channel 8, died this afternoon, according to TBO.com
The story quotes a family spokesman as saying Ratliff passed away after complications from surgery.
Ratliff worked for News Channel 8 for 27 years, from 1982 to 2009. He served as the morning news anchor and managing editor at the station and co-anchored "News Channel 8 Today" and "The News Channel 8 Midday Report."
Ratliff won numerous awards during his tenure, including a Florida Emmy nomination, national recognition from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, the "Communicator of the Year" award from the Tampa chapter of Toastmasters International, and various awards from the Associated Press and United Press International.
Prior to coming to WFLA, he worked at WFAA-TV in Dallas as an anchor/reporter and co-host for "PM Magazine." Prior to that, he was a news anchor/reporter and host of a daily talk show at WDIV-TV in Detroit.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, a son, Chet and daughter, Shannon. Details of funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
