I'll be here just a year or two

I don’t know how this happened, this date I mean... July 2, 2009.

It was on this date 30 years ago that I made my first appearance on television in Birmingham, Alabama. I had driven a U-Haul truck half-filled with stuff from Clay City, Indiana the week before. I had worked for four years at WTWO-TV in Terre Haute. My mom could see the station TV tower out of her kitchen window. Between newscasts, a couple nights a week, I’d race the 15 miles to Clay City for a home-cooked supper and race back for the late newscasts. The great and free food was greatly appreciated. I wish I could have another supper like that.

I had only been through Birmingham one time in my life. It was in the early 60s and I vaguely remember fire coming out of what must have been Sloss Furnace downtown and a big statue that stood next to some TV towers on top of a mountain. So, when the news director at WBRC Television called and asked if I’d come down for a job interview I didn’t know what to expect. I took the job and told everyone at home that I’d come here for a year or two and maybe try to get a job in Indianapolis or St. Louis or somewhere back up home.

I never tried.

If you have always lived here and love it, I don’t have to explain how you fall in love with Alabama. If you moved here, like me, your experience is might be similar to mine. I’ve been on two job interviews since coming to Birmingham, but nothing ever tempted me. I hope to never go on a job interview again, but never is a long time.

I’m writing this to say thank you. I’m asked once in a while if I mind being recognized in public. I always give an honest answer, which is I never mind, in fact I appreciate it so much. I think I’ve figured out that people who don’t like you probably won’t say anything to you, but people who watch and people who have at least grown accustomed to seeing your face and hearing your voice are pleasant and kind. If people never speak to you, you’re probably in more trouble than you know.

I don’t take this part lightly. I’ve always found television, especially local television news, very personal. It is information that to some degree affects us, touches our lives, and makes our community what it is. It seems very personal that someone pushes a button on a remote control and chooses to have you into their home. That’s always been a big deal to me and it still is. Viewers have, in some cases, a few hundred choices of things to watch, and if you’re fortunate enough to be what they choose, it is the best compliment a broadcaster can receive. Thank you for watching me over the past three decades.

July 2, 1979 seems like just yesterday in some ways, and yet seems like 30 years ago too. In an hour I’ll solo anchor our late newscast. In the last couple of minutes before the newscast open plays, I’ll get a little adrenaline rush. I always do, and I hope I always will.

They say life is pretty short, but if you’re lucky and blessed as I am, life is really pretty long and filled with wonderful people, wonderful opportunities, and memories that will never fade to black.

I’ll see you tonight at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00pm