WATERLOO -- Grant Price, the retired longtime news director at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, passed away late Friday after a lingering illness. He was 85.

Price was a dominant figure in eastern Iowa broadcast journalism for a half century, having worked many years at WMT-TV in Cedar Rapids, now KGAN, before joining KWWL in the early 1970s. In the early 1990s, he capped off his career teaching at Wartburg College in Waverly on the communication arts faculty.

As vice president of news and public affairs at KWWL, Price hosted the station's long-running "Focal Point" public affairs program, delivered many of the station's editorials and, after retirement, was called upon to moderate local election candidate forums.

Longtime KWWL-TV anchor Ron Steele said, "Grant, to me, has had more positive influence on broadcasting in Iowa, particularly television broadcasting, than any other individual, especially in our market, but across the state, too. He was a real journalist."

Price hired Steele as 90-day probationary employee at age 24 in 1974. He became the station's sports director and was promoted to news anchor five years later.

Steele said he had to prove to Price he was up to the job.

"Let me put it this way: How can I say enough about a person to whom I owe my entire career?" Steele said. "He's been an influence to me, not just professionally but personally. He was very demanding but very fair and right to the point. He told you exactly where you stood. He had very high standards, and that's something I really loved about him.

"What I admire most about Grant was his commitment to his family, his faith, his employees and his company," Steele said.

Price also hired Steele's longtime co-anchor, Liz Mathis, who also served with Price on the Wartburg faculty and then went on to anchor at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids.

"I basically begged him for the job" when first hired, Mathis said. "He said 'You think you can do the job? OK, prove it.'"

Mathis said Price saddled her with heavy camera gear, lights, and added, "Oh, by the way, you have to drive your own car."

Under Price's leadership KWWL went from last to first in local news coverage and ratings, Steele said. It was due in large part to the reporting staff he assembled, including the successful pairing of co-anchors Mathis and Steele in the early 1980s.

The concept of a female co-anchor was relatively new at the time, Mathis said, recalling she and Steele initially were wary of each other.

"Grant described it as a shotgun wedding," Mathis said, laughing.

Former longtime KWWL station manager Jim Waterbury recalled that Price vigorously defended his staff's work to the public, but would firmly take individuals to task when necessary after the office door was closed.

"He ran his own shop and didn't need anyone else" intervening, Waterbury said. He was exacting in making sure the job was done right. At the same time, Waterbury said, "If you ever needed someone in your corner in a fight, it was Grant."

Price also was well known for his advocacy of First Amendment issues and fought to get cameras in Iowa courtrooms in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Price also made a $2 million gift to Wartburg and during his tenure there began a substantial broadcasting history research archive.

Mathis recalled how many nationally known journalists would call on Price at Wartburg for advice. Waterbury said in his later years, Price took great pride in the number of people he mentored on their way to success in journalism and other careers.

"He was the center of the universe in all these stars," Waterbury said.

Memorial services for Price are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. Locke Funeral Home (319) 233-6138, is in charge of arrangements.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1426 or pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com.