Craig Warren Savage

Craig was born in Wichita Falls, Texas January 16, 1964. His first job was as a cameraman for the Wichita Falls CBS station, KAUZ. At 16 years old he found himself manning a camera working around-the-clock during a Jerry Lewis telethon. The fun and thrill were only heightened by the overtime paycheck that came with. Even as a teenager, Craig covered White House events when he was assigned by his station to be the local pool camera when First Lady Roslyn Carter held an event in his hometown.

He continued his journalism career by studying communications at the University of Denver and then traveled back to Texas where he quickly became an award-winning local news photographer. He began covering presidential politics in Houston, Texas when George H.W. Bush was running for president. An opportunity to move beyond local news beckoned and Craig moved to Washington, DC in 1993 where he worked as a cameraman for Belo news organization.

Craig’s talents needed a bigger stage, and it wasn’t long before he was one of Fox News Channel’s original hires landing a job as a White House cameraman where he spent nearly 30 years with not only a front row seat but a backstage pass covering presidents, world leaders, elections, wars, and natural disasters.

Craig’s skills as a cameraman were well-known. He helped shoot Fox News Channel’s first presidential interview with then-President Clinton and was subsequently involved in nearly every presidential interview thereafter. When Fox was assigned President George W. Bush’s secret 2003 Iraq trip to visit troops for Thanksgiving, Craig was the cameraman and he was later assigned to President Trump’s covert trip to Afghanistan for Thanksgiving with the troops in 2019. In January 2005, Craig was embedded with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division while the unit helped protect Baghdad to make sure Iraqis felt safe voting. His stealth and proficiency in delivering footage under the most stringent conditions were a testament to his skill and dedication.

Being a member of the Fox Drone Team enabled Craig to add his skills to important stories while covering the southern border and natural disasters. A bird’s-eye view of hurricane or flooding damage was something he wanted viewers to see.

Craig loved being behind the camera. His attention to detail when it came to lighting, framing, audio and knowing how to get the best shot at the right time set his skills apart. But it was his affable personality, calmness, and hard work that made him a beloved cameraman to work with. He took pride in his craft always wanting viewers to see his best efforts. It is also his patience and kindness that he will be remembered for by those in the news business.

His White House years took Craig around the world where he could experience different cultures. Those trips also helped satisfy a craving for spicy food in which his attitude was “the hotter the better.” It was not unusual for him to bring home hot peppers or sauces. Even on chemo treatment days, Craig would sit down with family and a plate of Thai food to satisfy his appetite for life.

Craig often regaled friends about his knowledge and love of cars. His first vehicle in high school was a 1977 Fire Bird Formula and his passion grew from there. As an adult, Craig gravitated towards cars from the 80’s and 90’s sampling body and type - a 1981 Triumph convertible, 1987 Land Rover, 1987 Ford pickup and a 1999 S8 Audi sedan have all been recent purchases. And he chose wisely because it was not unusual for a stranger to stop him in a parking lot or leave a note on the windshield asking if the vehicle was for sale.

Craig will be remembered for his work ethic, easy-going manner, kindness and patience. He filled our lives with love.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Marie Riha, sons Jake (wife Alexa Savage), Andrew, and Maxwell Savage, as well as stepchildren Zachary and Carly Norins. Grandchildren Sloane and Evander “Van” Savage will miss their Poppa Craig. Craig is predeceased by his father James Warren Savage of Wichita Falls, TX and survived by his mother Mary Jane Savage, brother Jeff Savage, and sister Jenny Savage also from Wichita Falls, Texas.

Please consider a donation to Lost Dog and Cat Rescue. Family pets were always a source of comfort for him even through his last chapter.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church at in Arlington, VA March 29th.