Loved ones, neighbors and government officials came out Saturday for a special street co-naming in honor of Bill McCreary, who’s known as a trailblazer for Black television journalists.

“He was the common denominator in our lives that allowed us to excel to where we are right now. Bill McCreary one of the few institutions that stated that the voices of black people will be heard in his city,” Mayor Eric Adams said at the event.

What You Need To Know

• Loved ones, neighbors and city officials gathered Saturday for a street dedication in honor of Bill McCreary who blazed the trail for Black television journalists


• The street dedication was organized by neighbors on the street the McCreary’s lived on for the past 56 years


• McCreary is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and was one of the first Black television journalists in New York


• His wife said after he retired in 2000 he battled with a neurological disease until his death in 2021 at 87 years old

The street dedication was introduced by former Councilmember I. Daneek Miller, but organized by neighbors from the street that the McCreary’s lived on for the past 56 years.

“I thank them with joy and gratitude they’re recognizing what he was about,” O’Kellon McCreary, widow of Bill McCreary, said.

McCreary is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and was one of the first Black television journalists in New York.

His wife, who was married to him for 62 years, said after he retired in 2000 — he battled with a neurological disease until his death in 2021 at 87 years old.

“He was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis right after he retired. These were the year we thought we would do what we wanted to do because his career took over his whole life but he was a person that never complained,” O’Kellon McCreary said.

Throughout his years, McCreary was a mentor to many, including NY1 anchor Cheryl Wills.

“He was an inspiration and I could tell you my friends in Queens, my neighbors. He never let me down,” Wills said.

Many at the dedication said his long list of accolades spoke for itself.

“He interviewed civil rights heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said.

“There were very few Black journalists if you remember on TV News when bill joined Channel 5 in 1967 but the unparalleled success bill and his colleagues paved then paved the way for many of us here today,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said.

Long time neighbors, like Euclid Jordan, couldn’t help but reminisce on times had with McCreary. 

“He played softball with the fellas, we played right back there,” Jordan said while pointing to a field beyond a row of homes. “Even though he had his Channel 5 program, very established — he never left us,” he continued.

For O’Kellon McCreary, although the couple never had biological children, she says he was a father figure to countless individuals and hopes that he continues to be an inspiration.

“You got to love him. He was a great guy on camera and off, in public and at home. You can’t ask for more than that,” O’Kellon McCreary said.