Deborah Knapp, a beloved San Antonio news anchor, is retiring on May 21, 2025, after nearly 50 years in television news, including 38 years at KENS 5.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Knapp grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in print journalism. Her career began in 1977 at KSAT in San Antonio as a weekend weather presenter before she joined KENS 5 in 1978 as a weekend anchor.
She briefly worked in Philadelphia at WCAU in 1980 but returned to KENS 5 in 1987, where she became a cornerstone of the station, anchoring the 5 p.m. newscast and contributing special reports.
Knapp’s tenure at KENS 5 made her a San Antonio institution, earning her an Emmy Award and induction into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.
Known for her commitment to community, she established the Deborah Knapp Scholarship at UT Austin in 1994 to support San Antonio students. Colleagues praise her professionalism and connection to the city, with KENS 5 president Tom Cury calling her “the heart of our newsroom.”
Knapp, 70, cited personal reasons for retiring, including spending time with her two adult children, four grandchildren, and 91-year-old mother.
She expressed gratitude for serving San Antonio, a city she calls her “happy place,” and will miss her colleagues, especially weatherman Bill Taylor, a close friend. Her retirement follows a wave of departures at local stations, but Knapp leaves a legacy of journalistic integrity and community service.
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