Mark Howard Nashville NewsChannel 5 Sportscaster ‘Wake Up Zone’ Radio Host Dead At 65

NASHVILLE, TN. (THECOUNT) — Mark Howard, a longtime NewsChannel 5 sportscaster and 104.5 “Wake Up Zone” radio host, died Sunday, according to his wife Debra. He was 65.

Howard, a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, became one of the most popular sports anchors in Nashville during the 20-plus years he spent at WTVF, according to tennessean.

In 2018, The Tennessean listed Howard, whose real name was Howard Mark Levenson, in its top 60 over 60 list of sports figures who were still working.

“My heart’s broken,” said retired NewsChannel 5 sports director Hope Hines:

“I’ve lost one of my best and dearest friends. He was more like a son to me and he felt the same way, I was a father-like figure in many ways to him. I’m heartbroken for Jack his son, and Debra. He was a great, great talent.”

Howard transitioned to radio in the early 2000s where he started out as host of a local political show.

In 2004, Howard returned to sports when he became co-host of the “Wake Up Zone” on The Zone 104.5-FM along with Kevin Ingram and former Tennessee Titan Frank Wycheck.

The show eventually became the No. 1-rated show in Nashville and among the top in the country and dominated morning drive for many years.

Howard and Ingram left the show in 2020. Howard spent a total of 21 years employed by The Zone.

A cause of death was not provided.

DEVELOPING::