Arch Deal (October 5, 1931 – March 13, 2020, aged 88) was an American newscaster with WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida, having started in 1959. [1] He was also the father of Tampa musician Karen Deal. [2]
An avid skydiver, Deal had made more than 5,000 jumps by 2002. In 1975, his chute malfunctioned and he hit the ground at 120 mph. He suffered a broken neck, broken pelvis, and cracked ribs. In three months time, he returned to work at his WFLA-Ch. 8 job. [3] He later worked at radio station WRBQ-FM 104.7 as a sky traffic reporter until 1992. [4]
In 1991, he became a father again, fathering a daughter. [5]
In 2010, his 57-year-old daughter Karen died, having been in a coma for a month after choking at dinner. [6]
Deal died on March 13, 2020, also after choking on food. He is survived by daughters, Diane and Michelle Deal and his son, Doug Deal. [3]