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SAN ANTONIO - After an exceptional 36-year career, KENS 5 news anchor Chris Marrou announced his retirement Wednesday during the station's 6 p.m. newscast.
After anchoring San Antonio's KENS news since 1973, Marrou plans on retiring at the end of the year.
During the newscast Marrou offered, "After more than 35 years here at KENS-TV, I've decided to retire. My wife Kathy and I will soon be 62 years old, and those little twins of mine you saw on TV a few years back are now 21 and graduating from college.
"I have plenty of energy and I'm not ailing, so I plan to do something else. I just figure I've done this enough.
"As some of you know, I'm now a lawyer and I'll get a master's in business next May, so I plan to take some time off and then look for something to do.
"I want to thank you for watching all these years and making my career possible. I'm very grateful, and I hope you'll keep watching these wonderful folks I work with at KENS 5."
Marrou's career in broadcasting began as a reporter with WOAI-TV in San Antonio. After a brief stint in Dallas at KRLD radio, he returned to San Antonio in 1973 and signed on as anchor of KENS 5 news on Christmas Eve.
He joined the legendary team of Jud Ashmore and Dan Cook that gained popularity for the on-air antics and ad-libs during the trio's "accidental" open mike pauses before commercial breaks.
KENS 5 quickly shot to No. 1 in the ratings, a position the station continues to hold today.
One of Marrou's more notable contributions to KENS 5 is the humorous "Eyewitness Newsreel," which he still produces today.
"Chris Marrou is one of the finest journalists I have experienced the pleasure of working with in television," said KENS President and General Manager Robert McGann. "I cannot thank Chris enough for his contributions to the success of KENS."
"Chris is a consummate journalist who always covers the news with a sense of immediacy and professionalism," added KENS 5 Executive News Director Kurt Davis. "He has a unique rapport with the viewers and will be truly missed in the newsroom."
Throughout his career, Marrou has earned numerous broadcasting awards, including:
??* Best Anchor in San Antonio, 2007 San Antonio Current Reader Picks
??* Best TV Newscast, 1995 and 1997, Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
??* Best TV News Writing 1988, Texas Associated Press
??* Best TV News Series 1988, Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
??* Top Local News Anchor 1985, Television and Radio Age Magazine
??* Best Documentary 1976, Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
Marrou was born in Nixon, Texas, and grew up in Castle Hills, Texas, where he graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.
Before starting his broadcasting career, he attended Princeton University studying Political Science from 1964 to 1967.
In 2007, he earned a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law and passed the Texas bar exam.
Marrou is currently working on his Master of Science Technology Commercialization from The University of Texas Red McCombs School of Business.
