LAKE CHARLES , La. ( KPEL-FM ) – It’s been a tough stretch these last few months watching legendary television broadcasters hang it up after long and illustrious careers. Recently, greats like Darla Montgomery and Agnes Derouen have called it quits , and now another television legend has announced his upcoming retirement.
Which Louisiana television anchor is set to retire?
Longtime KPLC morning news anchor John Bridges says he plans to retire after more than three decades with the Lake Charles-based TV station.
Posted by KPLC 7 News on Thursday, April 10, 2025
Bridges joined the 7News team back in 1992, but he’s spent almost 50 years in the broadcasting industry.
“I’ve been in broadcasting for 50 years in May, 33 years here at KPLC, and feel it’s time to relax just a bit and not wake up at 2 a.m. each day,” Bridges said. “I’m not going to disappear and plan to stay active in the community. I’ll always love my time at KPLC.”
John Bridge’s beginnings in the broadcasting industry
Bridges got an early start in broadcasting, landing a job at the age of 15 at KIKS-AM radio station in Sulphur, and later moved on to become news director at Q101-FM and KYKZ-FM.
In 1992, he started at KPLC as an assignments director. He later anchored weekend newscasts before joining the 7News Sunrise team in 1996.
A benchmark in which John Bridges will forever be known for
One of the signature segments John Bridges produced was the weekly “Hometown Heroes.”…