WTVD reporter Ed Crump is retiring after 37 years at the Raleigh-Durham ABC owned station.
Crump started his career more than 43 years ago at TV and radio station WMAZ in Macon, Ga. where he worked as a reporter, weekend anchor and producer. He then moved to WTVC in Chattanooga, Tenn. before joining WTVD in 1984.
In a Facebook post, announcing his retirement, Crump said a 2018 diagnosis of smoldering myeloma, along with the pandemic helped him decide make the decision to retire.
“Those two things in particular have made me hyper aware of the value of life and loved ones,” said Crump. “The past 18 months—spent mostly alone with my college sweetheart and wonderful wife of 42 years—also made me realize that I am ready to spend the rest of my life with her unencumbered by employment.”
While telling people about his retirement, he threw in a plug for viewers to get vaccinated saying the mRNA vaccine has been in development for 30 years and that he’s looked at it closely.
“I believe it’s the only way we can fairly quickly stem the tide of Covid-19 in the U.S. and buy us the time we need to find the best treatments for those who continue to contract it,” said Crump. “And of all the great acts of kindness you’ve committed during my tenure as a reporter at ABC 11, getting vaccinated is probably the easiest and will likely have the most overall impact on your fellow citizens than any other.”
His last day is Friday.