Bill Hewitt (WSGW file photo)

Bill Hewitt, longtime WSGW-AM/FM (Saginaw) reporter, producer and anchor died this past Monday (7/20) at Bay City Comfort Care.  Known for his early-morning shifts and steady voice, he helped keep mid-Michigan listeners informed for decades.

He retired in 2020 after roughly 40 years of making police calls, listening to scanners, reporting on traffic tie ups, politics, community events and breaking news.

Hewitt began his broadcasting career at WBCM in Bay City before joining WSGW in 1980, after then-news director Dave Maurer asked him to come to the Saginaw station, Hewitt told MLive in 2010. He later left to pursue other opportunities in broadcasting before returning to WSGW.

In a social media post, WSGW morning host Charlie Rood, wrote, "Bill was a friend to all! Bill knew everybody and everybody knew Bill, especially in his news work with law enforcement at WSGW and as a Bay City Police reserve officer."

A journalist for 55 years, including 37 with WSGW, Hewitt was know as "Scoop". His trusted and established relationships with first responders throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region allowed him to gain the insight and information on news stories, including many breaking news stories. Hewitt "was often first with the story, but more important, fair and factual. He was old school. He was a news man with the story, not a news man that became the story," Rood added.

"He also ran the control room board in evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays. He ran Tigers and Wings and other sports games. If someone called in sick, he would fill in. He answered phones for our local shows. He ran errands. Whatever was needed, Bill would do!"

Outside of media, Hewitt served as secretary as well as vice president of Bay County Crime Stoppers and served on the board of Michigan Crime Stoppers. He also spent 40 years as a first aid and CPR instructor with the American Red Cross and served on the board of directors of the East Shoreline Chapter in Bay City.

Funeral arrangements are pending.