Grant McOmie had blood clots and was admitted to the hospital. Doctors could quickly identify that part, at least. What they discovered next was not. A cancer that had apparently been growing without any notice to the outside world was hidden beneath the surface, unnoticed until those last few days. The most recognizable outdoor television voice in Oregon vanished in a matter of days rather than weeks. He was seventy-three.
McOmie had been doing what most people only do on their best vacations for fifty years. In the same way that some people exchange business cards, he waded into rivers, strolled through forests, and sat in boats on the Columbia with men like Bill Monroe, the most decorated outdoor writer in the Pacific Northwest. Monroe’s most recent fishing trip, which took place sometime in early September, produced a 22-pound Chinook salmon and whatever memories he still has. “The weather was beautiful,” Monroe remarked later. “Lots of happy customers on the boat.” That was their final outing together, even though he was unaware of it at the time.
A man who spent his entire career encouraging people to get outside—to move, to look, and to never stop exploring—being taken by something he couldn’t predict is quietly devastating. You wouldn’t characterize McOmie as being negligent about his health. He was active, involved, and seemed to be doing what he loved all the time. Nevertheless, the cancer was present, silently waiting and carrying out these actions.
In 1981, he started working at KGW-TV. After that, he worked at stations in Portland and Seattle before coming back to KGW in 2008, where Grant’s Getaways developed into something of a regional institution. The program, which was produced in collaboration with Travel Oregon and photographer Jeff Kastner, a former Pacific University student of McOmie’s, covered fishing, hiking, wildlife, and the kinds of stories about regular Oregonians that probably ought to make the evening news but never do. Kastner once claimed that when the most recent McOmie report was released, everything in rural communities came to a standstill. That’s not exaggeration. That’s a man who spent decades developing real trust.
After completing his studies in drama and English at Pacific University, he went on to earn graduate degrees in journalism, speech communications, and English. All of that was evident in his delivery, which had a warm, gravel-like voice and the timing of someone who knew that sometimes a story told slowly would be more impactful than one told quickly. In recognition of his more than 40 years of dedication to journalism and environmental reporting, he was inducted into the Northwest Emmy Silver Circle in 2001 and won both Emmy Awards and AP Awards. To be honest, though, he probably valued the mornings on the water more than any of that.
The exact duration of the cancer before the blood clots necessitated the hospital visit is still unknown. Family members and coworkers attested to the fact that there wasn’t much left to do once the doctors discovered it. According to some accounts, a day or two. Though it doesn’t lessen the loss, he passed away surrounded by his family, which is about as much as anyone can hope for.
Speaking of his old friend, Monroe said something worth pondering: McOmie had an unmistakable understanding of the magic of the Pacific Northwest. He was not a conservationist. He didn’t give lectures. Week after week, year after year, he simply brought people with him until the place began to feel like it was theirs as well. It’s more difficult than it seems. Now, whoever takes up that specific task—Owin Hays of GPS Outdoors has been mentioned—will know precisely how much it should weigh.
For fifty years, Grant McOmie wrote books, instructed students, caught salmon, and encouraged the Pacific Northwest to explore its resources. Before most people knew he was ill, he passed away. The outdoors never did follow a script, but that seems like the kind of conclusion he wouldn’t have written for himself.
FAQs
Q1: What was Grant McOmie’s cause of death?
Undetected cancer, discovered after he was hospitalised for blood clots.
Q2: How old was Grant McOmie when he died?
He was 73 years old.
Q3: When did Grant McOmie die?
He passed away on March 26, 2026.
Q4: What was Grant McOmie best known for?
His long-running outdoor adventure series, Grant’s Getaways, on KGW.
Q5: Who survives Grant McOmie?
His wife, Chris, and their three sons — Grant III, Kevin, and Eric.