After a long career at News Center Maine a news anchor legend is retiring after being on our televisions for 43 years.

Pat Callaghan made the announcement Wednesday, November 16, that he will be retiring from News Center Maine.

His final newscast will be Friday, December 9, 2022.

If you've lived in Maine all your life, Pat Callaghan has probably been there on your TV for the majority of it. In 1990, the "dream team" of Pat, Cindy Williams, Bruce Glasier and Joe Cupo dominated the television ratings year after year because these four were like family to viewers.

Over the past ten years, the dream team has slowly broken up.

Bruce retried in 2012 and sadly passed away two years later. Meteorologist Joe Cupo retired in 2016, and Cindy Williams did the same in 2021.

Now, it's Pat's turn to say goodbye to the anchor desk.

Pat Callaghan joined WLBZ in Bangor, the sister station to WCSH, in 1979 and became the co-anchor of the weekday 6 o'clock newscast at WCSH in Portland in 1989.

Prior to anchoring the 6 p.m. show, in 1986, he covered the launch of the space shuttle Challenger from Cape Canaveral. He was there live and witnessed its explosion shortly after launch, killing all those aboard including New Hampshire school teacher Christa McAuliffe.

He has been inducted into the Maine Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and a year ago he was inducted into the New England National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle.

Pat's a super nice guy too with a great sense of humor you don't often see.

When I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2011 and made the front page of the Portland Press Herald after I made the announcement, Pat mentioned me on Twitter.

That's when I realized that Pat and I have the same sense of humor. There's also something about Pat that he and I share in common as broadcasters.

In his bio on the News Center Maine website, he answered the question, "What would the book about your life be called, and what would the first line be?"

His answer...

“Standing Pat—A Life Sitting Behind a Microphone.” First line: “I’m probably the least likely person to make a living talking to thousands of people at a time. But it’s easier than one on one somehow.”

You and me both Pat. Put me behind a microphone and I'm fine but in social gatherings one-on-one I am rather awkward. If you're reading this Pat, you might have noticed that awkwardness when I came over to shake your hand and say hello quickly as we were leaving a wedding.

Congratulations on your retirement Pat. You have certainly earned it and you will be sorely missed on my and many other Mainer's TV. Time to start writing that book. I'll be first in line to buy it.

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