Hector Urrutia, a longtime Spanish-language broadcaster in El Paso, retired from Channel 26-KINT. He had been a news broadcaster with Entravision and Univision for 29 years, but had been in the news business for almost four decades.
The news station thanked Urrutia Thursday, April 30, for his hard work and professionalism.
“Your career leaves a mark: thank you for each teaching, for the professionalism that always distinguished you and for that unwavering commitment to keep our community informed. Your charisma and unique personality marked generations. El Paso deeply thanks you for so many years of dedication in front of our screens,” the station posted on Facebook.
As he sat in a home office Friday, May 1, filled with awards and photographs from his career, Urrutia shared that he is proud of his 29 years with Entravision (which bought Univision in 1997), covering many important stories along the border, meeting presidents and winning Emmys for outstanding achievement. He also has several Premio Lo Nuestro trophies.
“I’m at the age where you can retire legally, and you know, it wasn’t an easy decision, but by the same token, I think it’s time, especially since my wife loves to travel,” he said. Among his upcoming travel plans is to see the solar eclipse in Spain in August.
As a newsman, Urrutia has led a pretty interesting life. His career began in the 1980s, working for Televisa network in Mexico City from 1983-85.
“I used to be a correspondent, and on one of my trips, I found Juan Gabriel. I interviewed him at the airport in Chihuahua City. He didn’t want to be interviewed for TV, but for Televisa radio, he did. It was very interesting and I have a picture with him there,” he said.
Before coming to El Paso in 1997, he worked for a couple of years as an executive producer for a Telemundo affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
In the earlier years, he remembers working as a skeleton crew, doubling as producer and news anchor. And he has also seen the change in broadcasting from analog to digital.
“I was one of the first MMJs, multimedia journalists, in El Paso that was carrying more than 80 pounds (of equipment). At the end of the day, I had a sore back,” he said with a laugh.
For the past couple of years, he has started his day at 3 a.m. as part of Despierta El Paso, which has also been honored as the best morning show for the Lone Star Emmys in its market.
“I was getting up about 2:30 a.m., drinking my coffee and then starting on the treadmill doing exercise while I listened to the newscast at least five days a week. So now that I’m retired, I can keep doing it maybe six days a week,” he said.
Urrutia has many fond memories in the news business, from interviewing former President George W. Bush as a presidential candidate in Mesilla, N.M. and meeting Capulina, the Mexican comedian, to doing serious reports on trafficking and global warming while in Antarctica.
For him, reporting has always been about telling stories that are important to the community. The Emmys – earned between 2021 and 2025 – have been a rewarding result. The Emmys have been for Best Newscast Evening News Anchor 2021, Best Newscast 2022 voces de la Frontera Best News Anchor, Public Affairs Rompiendo Barreras News Anchor 2023, and Morning Daytime Newscast Aristas de la Migracion 2025 News Anchor.
“Sometimes the stories are not good, but someone needs to report them. And also, to do stories that serve the community and tell the human side of the story – that’s the most important thing,” he said.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hector Urrutia retires after decades in El Paso Spanish TV
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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