WCSH anchor Pat Callaghan is retiring after 43 years.
“After more than four decades with @newscentermaine I will be retiring early next month,” Callaghan told viewers of the Portland, Maine NBC affiliate. “I’ll admit it’s a bit hard for me to process! My thanks to everyone here and across Maine who have made this such a rewarding experience!”
He started his career with New Hampshire Public Television and moved to WLBZ in Bangor in 1979. He transferred to sister station WCSH in Portland in 1983 and became co-anchor of the station’s evening newscasts in 1989. He currently anchors weekdays at noon, 5 and 6 p.m.
“I have always been impressed with Pat’s even-handed and analytical approach to political coverage, which made sure that viewers had a clear understanding of the facts,” said William S. Cohen, the former U.S. senator from Maine and U.S. secretary of defense, who first met Callaghan in 1979. “Pat took his work seriously but did not take himself seriously, which is almost always a formula for success and happiness.”
“He’s like a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Maine news and politics. He’s always quoting words to songs and his album collection would blow your mind,” said former co anchor Cindy Williams. “He’s someone who can be so thoughtful and poignant but also crack you up. I always said I’d want him to do my eulogy, because he can make people laugh and cry.”
The station has named Brian Yocono as Callaghan’s replacement. Yocono was most recently an anchor at WPRI in Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked since 2014. He also worked at WCSH from 2006 to 2011.
“I think I’ll miss being plugged in right at the source of the information,” said Callaghan. “And I’ll miss the people. It’s a special group, smart and funny, serious about work but not serious about themselves. And they’re covering the news at a very difficult time.”