A longtime Texas news anchor has died following a two-year battle with Stage 4 colon cancer, his colleagues announced Thursday.

Victor Lopez, the anchor of NewsWest 9's Sunrise at 6am since 2011, passed away  late Wednesday night, the station said.

He died surrounded by friends and family, staffers said during an emotional broadcast.

Lopez had undergone 'countless rounds' of chemotherapy and surgeries in the months before, the station wrote in a report.

It noted how 'Lopez still showed up bright and early to share the latest headlines from across the Permian Basin with his friends and fans.'

The anchor wrote to fans in a Facebook post on September 2: 'Make it a great Wednesday!!' 

A photo showed him suited up in-studio, with a smile.

He was 51.

'I can't say that this is gonna be the easiest newscast we've had to do, but, unfortunately, it's with heavy hearts that we have to report, NewsWest 9 Sunrise anchor - and also our good friend - Victor Lopez passed away last night,' 4pm anchor Jolina Okazaki tearfully told viewers. 

'He was dealing with cancer for two years, and unfortunately lost his battle.'

Jordan Frazier, the station's chief meteorologist, held her hand as she spoke. Okazaki worked with Lopez for about a decade. The two anchored NewsWest 9 Sunrise together for several years before Okazaki was moved to afternoons.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she recalled how Lopez worked his way 'all the way to the anchor desk' from working behind the scenes.

'He actually started in master control, worked as a producer, then became a reporter in 2007,' she said. 

Lopez made his way to the desk in 2011, where he stayed. He eventually became one of the most recognizable faces in the Midland-Odessa area – and his face was almost always adorned with a smile, a tribute package put together by the station said.

The smile remained even after his August 2024 diagnosis, and after Lopez's cancer returned after briefly going into remission in September 2025.

'He was just a firecracker,' longtime anchor Crystal Crews said on-air. 'He was so passionate. 

'He loved people so much and it's gonna be really hard not to see him sitting in the newsroom.'

Many recalled Lopez's ability to connect with his audience.

Okazaki said that despite the surgeries and setbacks, Lopez 'still showed up to work bright and early because he wanted to give you guys all the latest updates.

'We know he was in so much pain, but he told us he loved his job and he loved this community, and he wanted to continue showing up and he kept doing it until he couldn't any longer,' she said, sobbing.

Lopez's family is asking for privacy, the station said. 

In lieu of flowers, they are asking mourners to make a donation to the Texas Oncology Foundation, Permian Basin Gifts of Hope, Midland Community Theatre, Safe Place of the Permian Basin or the Crisis Center of West Texas.