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Jack Popejoy was a longtime presence on KFWB until moving over to sister station KNX as morning co-anchor when the news staffs were combined two years ago. He died Saturday of cancer at his home in Sherman Oaks, the station announced. Popejoy won his 27th Golden Mike award from the Radio Television News Association of Southern California last month, and in 1998 was recognized as Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists in Los Angeles. "It would not be an exaggeration to say, on radio, Popejoy was the most trusted news broadcaster in Southern California," radio columnist Gary Lycan writes in his obituary in the Orange County Register.
"Popejoy became an expert on the Southern California earthquake hazard and he was frequently seen lurking in the halls and offices at Caltech and the USGS, and he was a long-time consultant to the Southern California Earthquake Center," KNX said in its story. "Additionally, he was an emergency management associate for the City of Los Angeles for more than 20 years and since 1989, Popejoy was an Honorary Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department." Brian Humphrey, LAFD PIO, posted a tribute at the department's new blog.