(KGW-TV – PORTLAND, Ore. 3/26/26) — Grant McOmie, journalist, author and teacher who wrote, produced and hosted the popular “Grant’s Getaways” segments and programs on KGW has died after a short illness, his family said.
Grant McOmie began his broadcast career at KGW in 1981 and worked at other stations in Portland and Seattle. He returned to KGW in 2008 and began “Grant’s Getaways.”
His stories and weekly show chronicled the region’s people, places and outdoor adventures.
McOmie graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, with degrees in Drama and English. He also pursued graduate studies in Journalism, English, and Speech Communications at the University of Washington and the University of Portland. He continued as an educator hosting open events around the state and as an Adjunct Professor at his alma-mater, Pacific University.
He won numerous awards for his work, including Oregon AP and Oregon Association of Broadcasters awards, plus numerous Emmy awards — most recently, a 2023 Emmy for Best Informational and Instructional Content. In 2021, he was inducted into the Northwest Emmy Silver Circle to recognize his more-than 40-year commitment to the highest standards of journalism and his contributions to environmental and outdoor reporting.
His weekly show, “Grant’s Getaways,” produced in partnership with Travel Oregon and photographer Jeff Kastner, a native of Tillamook County and a former student of McOmie’s at Pacific University, highlighted fishing, hiking, and wildlife and the people of the Northwest who shared their passion for the outdoors. Kastner had grown up watching Grant’s stories, saying in a 2024 Pacific University article, “Everybody in the rural communities knows Grant. Everything stopped when the latest Grant McOmie report came on the news.”
“Grant McOmie has been a member of the KGW family for nearly a half-century. His passing is a heartbreaking loss for our community and for everyone who loves Oregon’s outdoor,” said KGW General Manager Greg Retsinas. “He wasn’t just a talented journalist and storyteller — he was a trusted guide who made Oregon’s rivers, forests and backroads feel like a shared backyard. His “Grant’s Getaways” inspired countless families to get outside and explore new places. He was a dear colleague to all of us at KGW, and our deepest condolences are with his family at this time. His spirit and stories will be missed.”
McOmie authored several books, including “Grant’s Getaways-101 Oregon Adventures” and “Guide to Wildlife Watching Across Oregon.”
He is known for his signature storytelling style, encouraging readers young and old to, in his words, “get out there” and explore the Oregon outdoors.
McOmie is survived by his wife, Chris Stobbe McOmie, whom he met while they were both students at Pacific University, and their three sons, Grant III, Kevin and Eric.
From Visit Tillamook Coast: