by KYW's Paul Kurtz and Jim Melwert
Longtime Philadelphia television sports anchor Gary Papa has died at the age of 54.
Papa, the sports director for WPVI-TV, died Friday after a five-year battle against prostate cancer.
Gary Papa joined the TV station in 1981 as a sports reporter. The TV station's web site says he spent nine years as weekend sports anchor, while reporting from the field three days a week. He was named sports director in 1990.
He leaves behind his wife, Kathleen, and two sons, Tucker and Nathaniel.