CHICAGO (CBS) – Harry Porterfield, the Chicago television reporter and anchor known for “Someone You Should Know,” his series of profiles about ordinary Chicagoans doing extraordinary things, has died at the age of 95.
The Northwest Indiana resident died Monday of natural causes after a short illness, surrounded by family members, Porterfield’s former TV news station, CBS 2, reported.
CBS 2 says Porterfield was a mainstay of Chicago television for 51 years. That included time at ABC7 and a combined 30 years at CBS 2.
He was born in Saginaw, Michigan and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1954. He obtained a law degree from DePaul University in 1993 as he continued work in television.
The final leg of his career was spent a CBS 2, where he returned in 2009. He anchored the 11 a.m. newscast and did his trademark profiles until retiring in 2015.
His well-known segment “Someone You Should Know” focused on regular people who did interesting things, often for charitable reasons. The reports floated on Porterfield’s deep, reassuring and smooth delivery.
“He was a wonderful man and an excellent anchor and reporter who paved the way for many of us,” Porterfield’s colleague, current CBS 2 anchor Jim Williams, said in a social media post Monday.
Porterfield is survived by his wife, four children, one grandchild and a great grandchild. His funeral will be private, but a public memorial will be planned for later.
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