Jim Ruddle may have left local television screens four decades ago, embarking on global travels aboard a custom-built steel-hulled cutter. Yet, his passing has elicited a wealth of memories and accolades from colleagues and competitors alike. James F. Ruddle passed away on Thursday in Rye, New York, succumbing to natural causes at the age of 94, as confirmed by his family on social media.
Former WBBM-Ch. 2 anchorman Bill Kurtis remarked, “Jim Ruddle was old school, and that’s a good thing. He was an anchorman who valued fairness and clarity. Be first, but be accurate.” Kurtis highlighted Ruddle’s knack for writing, likening his skill to that of notable television figures like Kalber, Drury, Chancellor, Cronkite, Calloway. Carol Marin, a long-time colleague at WMAQ-Ch. 5, echoed this sentiment. She noted, “Jim had a photographic memory, an IQ in the stratosphere, and a journalism résumé spanning PBS, WGN, WMAQ, and the NBC network.” She emphasized that Ruddle was indeed old school, which he regarded as a high compliment.
Born on May 20, 1932, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jim Ruddle was the youngest of three children in the Ruddle family. His early education included guidance from a teacher who once mentored radio legend Paul Harvey. After high school, Ruddle attended the University of Tulsa. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard for three years, serving as a radio operator in both the North Atlantic and the Pacific.
Ruddle’s career in broadcasting began with baseball games at a local radio station. In 1954, he joined a Tulsa television station. He expanded his academic pursuits, working towards a graduate degree at the University of New Mexico. His career took him across various cities, such as Albuquerque, Tampa, and Mexico City, each contributing to his growth as a broadcaster.
In 1965, he landed in Chicago, partnering with Gary Park on WGN-Ch. 9 news, becoming part of the city’s first two-person anchor teams. Two years later, Ruddle transitioned to WMAQ-Ch. 5, excelling as both reporter and anchorman. In 1975, he ventured into public broadcasting as news anchor at WTTW-Ch. 11’s Public News Center. By 1977, Ruddle had joined NBC as a regional correspondent, describing his role as being on-call around the clock.
Ruddle’s family included his wife Anne, who preferred privacy, and their four children: Emily, Blake, Brey, and Kristen. Colleagues considered him the successor to the esteemed Floyd Kalber, but Ruddle opted for a mixture of anchoring, investigative reporting, and commentary. His poignant commentary, much like Len O’Connor and Walter Jacobson, occasionally ruffled corporate feathers, yet earned him respect from peers like media columnist Rob Feder, who lauded him for his intellect and gravitas.
In 1986, Ruddle chose to leave television, deciding to live on his boat, Zarzuela, full-time. His family remained in Chicago, while he sailed the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Great Lakes. He maintained ties with his Chicago friends and family during his voyages. Following Anne’s death in 2018, Ruddle began a lasting relationship with magazine editor Marilyn Balamaci.
Ruddle settled in Rye and penned “My Name Is Luke,” a young adult novel inspired by his grandchildren. Daughter Brey Sloan extolled her father on Facebook as “an exceptional man who led an amazing life.” Ruddle reminisced about his broadcasting days fondly, reflecting, “I was lucky to have been there at the beginning and for the best years of television journalism.” Peter Nolan, former WMAQ colleague, recounted Ruddle’s impressive memory and voice, describing him as the brightest in broadcasting and recalling nights of singing with Ruddle.
Jim Ruddle is survived by his children, six grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and his companion Marilyn Balamaci. Plans for a memorial service are underway.
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