TAMPA, Fla. - Tedd Webb, a familiar voice for years on the Tampa radio airwaves, has died at 72.
What You Need To Know
- Tedd Webb went into hospice last week
- He was a fixture on "AM Tampa Bay" on WFLA for many years
- ABOVE: Watch Melissa Eichman's Wednesday story about Tedd Webb
His family made the announcement Tuesday. Webb went into hospice care last week.
"With a mix of emotions, we have to announce that Tedd has passed away peacefully, and surrounded by family at 12:45 this afternoon," the family said on Facebook.
"We're finalizing plans for times and places to pay tribute, and will announce those plans here when we are ready. We ask for continued privacy for our family."
Webb called radio one of his life's loves. For five decades, listeners across Tampa Bay woke up to Webb co-hosting the AM Tampa Bay show on NewsRadio 970 WFLA with legendary radio personality Jack Harris.
Born in Tampa in 1949 with the name Henry Ruiz, he found his home away from home behind the microphone at age 14. With the exception of a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Tedd Webb, as he would come to be called on the air, worked at several radio stations. He progressed from music DJ to conservative talk show host until he retired in 2017.
He even joined Spectrum Bay News 9 in the late 90s for election coverage.
“Ted was an important part of NewsRadio WFLA and the Tampa Bay community for many years. He will be deeply missed and our thoughts & prayers are with his family,” iHeart Media Senior VP Tommy Chuck told Spectrum Bay News 9 Tuesday in an email.
Webb struggled with diabetes, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and was suffering from dementia in his final days, according to his family.
He told the Tampa Bay Times recently that his kidneys were "100 percent down."
"I'm at peace with God. My family has given me the green light," he told the Times.