Former PBS new anchor Jim Lehrer, who once lived on Gaston Avenue, died Thursday at his home in Washington. He was 85.

PBS announced the news on Twitter.

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required

Lehrer started his career in public television in 1970, when Dallas’ PBS affiliate, KERA, hired him to launch the weeknight news program, “Newsroom,” the station reported.

The former East Dallas resident is best known for his decades-long partnership with co-anchor Robert MacNeil on the nightly news program, “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.”

It ran from 1983-1995, when MacNeil retired. The show was renamed “NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,” and it continued until 2009.

Lehrer retired in 2011.