Longtime El Paso newsman Roy Ortega retires

He’s hard to forget.

You may remember Roy Ortega’s thick mustache, wide-brimmed glasses and easygoing delivery on KVIA.

Roy worked at KVIA from 1982 to 1993 as a news anchor and a political and education reporter. He eventually went on to work in different newsrooms in the Borderland.

Roy is retiring after 40 years working in television in El Paso, San Antonio, Austin and Albuquerque. He also worked for several newspapers.

“I covered some stories that had a big impact on me. The one that had the most traumatic effect on me was the Zaragoza tornado that killed 37 people in 1987,” Ortega said, “When we got there when they were pulling out little babies bodies out of the wreckage. That had a profound impact on me that started making me question whether I wanted to continue to do this for a living.”

Roy would go on to stay in the news business another 23 years.

“When you look back at the content of what you’ve done, you have to weigh it. I guess I did most things right to have lasted this long,” Ortega said.

Roy is also leaving his mark in two non-profit organizations. He was with Amistad for four-and-a-half years.

He’ll be putting away his sports coat and tie and will begin sporting more casual attire, something more appropriate his touring motorcycle.

He says it will be a time to reflect on a life well lived.