Chicago television anchor John Drury passed away Sunday, Nov. 25, surrounded by family and friends in his home in Wheaton, Illinois. He was 80 years old.

The veteran journalist had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for three years and passed away due to complications.

He had retired from ABC 7 Chicago in 2002, after a 16-year tenure as anchor of the top-rated 10:00 p.m. newscast. He began working as a news anchor in 1984; before that, he had worked for several other Chicago television stations, including WGN. Drury started his broadcasting career in 1955 at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.

He was born in Peoria, Illinois, on January 4, 1927, the youngest of fours sons. He grew up during the Depression, in Aurora, Illinois, left West Aurora High School early to enlist in the Navy during World War II and got his first job in radio at a community college and then as a student at the University of Iowa, reports ABC7Chicago.com.

During those 16 years as ABC 7’s news anchor, Drury became “the most watched anchor in Chicago television history,” according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, per ABC7Chicago.com. The 10 p.m. newscast maintained its No. 1 position while Drury anchored it.

“John passed away peacefully this evening at his home surrounded by his family,” a statement from his family issued Sunday said. “'Not only did he fight ALS, he gave back to the community by raising awareness to this disease.”

Former colleagues and collaborators praised the journalist warmly.

“John was the consummate journalist -- driven, passionate about telling the truth and, of course, a great communicator,” said Emily Barr, ABC 7's president and general manager.

“Throughout his 50-year career, viewers trusted him to deliver the news with fairness and accuracy and he never let them down. He was a wonderful, caring man who conducted himself with grace, loved to laugh and always made others feel at ease. All of us who worked with him are richer for having had the opportunity to be his colleague and his friend.”

According to ABC7Chicago.com, Drury’s work received prestigious recognition. The Museum of Broadcast Communications lauded him for his valuable contributions to broadcast history in 2000. That same year, the Chicago Advertising Club named Drury “Man of the Year.”

The Chicago TV icon was inducted in the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996 and also received the prestigious Silver Circle Award for 25 years of broadcasting excellence in Chicago.

Drury is survived by his wife Ann, and by four children.