Harry Porterfield, the beloved, legendary journalist who made his mark on Chicago and beyond, passed away at 95.
Mr. Porterfield died of natural causes on Monday after dealing with a short illness, surrounded by his family in Munster, Indiana.
His distinguished career spanned over half a century, during which he made significant contributions to the Chicago news landscape at WBBM-TV and WLS-TV.
One of his notable contributions was his long-running segment, “Someone You Should Know.”
Through this segment, he shared the unique stories of countless community members, leaving an indelible mark on Chicagoland and beyond.
Mr. Porterfield would also serve as an anchor for CBS 2’s top-rated 6 p.m. newscast, often alongside Bill Kurtis and later Don Craig.
In the mid-80s, station management removed him from the anchor desk, which stirred controversy, particularly within Chicago’s African-American community. Rainbow PUSH organized a boycott of CBS 2, leading Harry to join ABC 7.
Mr. Porterfield would return to CBS 2 in 2009, where he anchored the 11 a.m. newscast and continued to share “Someone You Should Know” segments for over six years before retiring in 2015.
Mr. Porterfield is survived by his wife of 55 years, four children, one grandchild, a great-grandchild, and countless adoring viewers. A private funeral is planned, with details for a public memorial in Chicago to be announced at a later date.
CBS News Chicago contributed to this report.
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