MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former longtime FOX13 reporter Les Smith has died after his battle with lung cancer, his family said Wednesday. He was 75.

His son — radio host Jason Smith — confirmed the death on Facebook and called his father "one of the best to ever hold a mic in Memphis."

Les Smith reported on more than 8,000 stories during his 13-year tenure at FOX13 before retiring in 2014. During his time as a reporter, he focused on telling people's stories from the heart.

RELATED: Retired FOX13 reporter Les Smith in hospital, family says

His family announced last week that Smith was in the hospital battling lung cancer. At the time, his son said Smith had just returned from a trip to Belize and was "in bad shape physically."

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