Friday January 5th. Retirement date of Fast Freddie Taylor.

"Its the first day I haven't had a job since I was a sophomore in high school and that was in 1957," Taylor explained. "I don't know how it's going to feel not to have a job. I'm going to try to enjoy it."

As of the 2nd week of 2007 he will be on permanent vacation.

It's hard to believe he's actually leaving the big 5. He's taken the television station through many a milestone. According to his colleagues he's paved the way for many of the operations we do today without thinking. Fred Taylor was the first reporter to begin doing reports from the field. Taylor was the first reporter to work out of our satellite truck. He covered new laws taking hold in our state legislature, he sent crews to stories, he anchored newscasts. He's an icon of all that we are today.

Deborah Morgan recalled her first impression of the television station, "Fred was there and it struck me as a place where people wanted to stay."

And stay he did. He has been a member of the WRAL team for 36 years. I have only known and worked with him for the last 4. In that time I have come to respect and love this man. He's taught me a lot about the business and a lot about people. On a story we worked on today I listened as he helped a fledgling reporter find his way.

"Rather than asking the question 'how do you feel'," Fred instructed, “approach them from being sympathetic. You know they have a message that they'd like to say about the situation, sometimes that'll start them."

It has been acts like these that have endeared me to him through the years. Everywhere I've ever been with Fred Taylor someone has recognized him. Fred has introduced me to more people than I can pretend to remember and he's introduced almost all of them as though they were close, personal friends. When I traveled with Fred I was immediately accepted into whatever fraternal organization it is that trusts and respects character, just by my association to him.

"It's not about the money. It's about getting the right story and the facts straight." Les Adkins a former reporter in Halifax County holds Taylor in high regard, "He's the original news hound. Before the internet and cell phones he pounded the pavement. He's as solid as a rock."

Cheers to you Fred and all those days of fishing and yard work you have ahead of you. Remember though, you'll never be off the WRAL team. For better or worse you will no doubt still be required to submit story ideas. At least now you will finally be able to keep anniversary plans with your lovely wife!

I've enjoyed every one of those days I had to drive two plus hours back and forth just to spend some time with Fred Taylor. He's one of the finest people I will ever work with. It's no secret he's one of my favorites and I will miss him very, very much.