Legendary Iowa Journalist/Anchor Ron Steele Exiting KWWL

After more than 40 years as a steadfast journalist, news anchor, and consummate professional both on-camera and off, Ron Steele has announced he is leaving KWWL at the end of February.

The news came following his evening newscast on February 11th, 2025 when Ron Steele ended the program by announcing his departure and thanking KWWL after more than five decades with the network. He started with KWWL all the way back in 1974, working as a sports director, and has become beloved by Iowans over the course of over 50 years.

Ron Steele and I prior to co-emceeing the 2023 American Heart Association Heart Walk in Dubuque.

Ron Steele was at the White House when American hostages came home from Iran in 1981. He covered the Persian Gulf War Conflict live from Saudi Arabia, right in the middle of Desert Storm. In 2013, he hosted a Sunday morning program called The Steele Report, which revolved around Iowans making waves in their home-state ad beyond, as well as current topics impacting those across the state.

KWWL News Director Andrew Altenbern said it best: "Ron is an icon among Iowans with an undeniable legacy."

I had the privilege of working alongside the man himself on a couple occasions.

In back-to-back years, 2023 and 2024, I co-emceed the annual American Heart Association Heart Walk in Dubuque alongside Ron Steele. He couldn't have been friendlier. On top of being such a joy to banter with, both in private and in front of an audience, the man made everyone who came up to him feel like a close friend.

In our short amount of time together, I saw him reconnect with folks he knew, meet new faces, take pictures with kids, and be an illuminating force of kindness and class right before my eyes. My experience is not atypical. Anyone who has met him will likely express the same joy, and recall the same radiant friendliness.

Steele's final day with KWWL will be Thursday, February 27th, 2025, remarkably little time given the farewell tour he deserves.

KWWL has been very generous to me and my family, and has given me some amazing opportunities to cover news, weather and sports over these five decades - Ron Steele, per KWWL

In February 2017, Steele underwent quadruple bypass open heart surgery. It was a complete success with what doctors in Iowa City called "a new heart and a 35-year warranty."

Steele was born in Washington, IA in 1950. He grew up in Wapello, and is a graduate of the University of Iowa, class of 1973. Him and his wife, Candy, have been married 51 years and have three grown children, along with nine grandchildren.