R.I.P.: Tennessee Broadcaster Hayward Armstrong

Hayward Armstrong

A longtime Athens radio news announcer passed away Tuesday morning, reports WRCB in Chattanooga.

Hayward Armstrong, a WJSQ/WLAR radio personality for more than 50 years, passed away at about 6 a.m.Randy Sliger, owner and general manager of WJSQ and WLAR released a statement Tuesday.

"Today our radio family has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of longtime news announcer, Hayward Armstrong. Hayward was not only our news announcer, but was a dear friend to us all. It will be impossible to ever fill the shoes of someone like Hayward," wrote Sliger. "He was a legend. You never had to worry about where you stood with Hayward. He was fearless in his pursuit of the facts and set the standard for fairness."

According to WCRB, Armstrong completed his last broadcast on Nov. 5 and was hospitalized later that day.