ATLANTA,None — John Pruitt, long time anchor for Channel 2 Action News, signs off for the last time on Friday at 6 p.m.
Pruitt's tenure in broadcasting spans 46 years of incredible history-making events. Some of the major stories he has covered include the civil rights movement, the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns, the inaugurations of Presidents Carter and Clinton, 11 Democratic and Republican conventions, and the aftermath of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center.
SLIDESHOW: John Pruitt's Retirement Lunch At WSB-TV John Pruitt's Retirement: Part 1 John Pruitt Retirement: Part 2 John Pruitt Retires: Memorable Moments John Pruitt Retires: Covering Carter John Pruitt Retires: Political News Makers John Pruitt Retires: The Civil Rights Era John Pruitt Retires: How It All Started SPECIAL SECTION: John Pruitt Retires
"It's been a privilege to cover our city and state during four decades of remarkable growth and history-making events," said John Pruitt. "I'm grateful to the viewers who've put their trust in me over the years, and to the dedicated and talented people with whom I have worked."
"John has been a market fixture and trusted name in Atlanta for so many years," said Bill Hoffman, vice president and general manager for Channel 2 WSB-TV. "His straightforward perspective and calming demeanor have been just a couple of the hallmark characteristics that Atlantan's depended on. He's a leader in the newsroom. John Pruitt is just flat out made of the right stuff."
"It's been an honor to work with John," said Marian Pittman, news director for Channel 2. "He set a very high bar for journalistic excellence. He is a part of who we are in so many more ways than his anchor duties. He's an invaluable leader, coach and friend to everyone in the newsroom and he will be missed!" she added.
"I'm looking forward to devoting less time to breaking news and more time with Andrea and my five, soon to be six, grandchildren," Pruitt continued. "I know the coming years will be every bit as fulfilling for me as the last 46 years have been."
Viewers will still see Pruitt on Channel 2 WSB-TV. He's continuing his role on special assignments covering politics and hosting "Georgia's Hidden Treasures" as well as taking part in the station's community events.
"John Pruitt is one of a kind," said Monica Pearson, his co-anchor at Channel 2 Action News for nearly 20 years. "He is an anchor man who is not anchored to his chair. He is a reporter first…a story teller. The best example I know of a journalist. I will miss him tremendously."
Justin Farmer, currently the anchor for Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., will join Monica Pearson at 6 p.m. when Pruitt retires.
Farmer joined Jovita Moore at 5 p.m. in January of this year, and, when Pruitt stepped down from the 11 p.m. in July, he joined Monica Pearson on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat.
Farmer, an Atlanta native, came to Channel 2 in June 2008. Since joining the station, he has traveled to Arizona investigating the protection of the border, Brazil for a series on renewable energy, to Cuba to cover the Economic Development trip with Governor Perdue, and to Washington D.C. to cover President Obama's inauguration.
He has anchored breaking news, moderated recent debates for Governor, an Atlanta mayoral debate and spearheaded coverage of the struggling economy in our region.
More on John Pruitt's career:
From 1965-67 he served as an infantry lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Seoul, South Korea, and Fort Gordon, Georgia. Upon his return to WSB in 1967, John resumed his reporting career, eventually rising to the position of weekend anchor. In 1973 he became anchor of the 6 and 11 p.m. news.
In 1978 John joined WXIA-TV as evening news anchor, but in 1994 rejoined WSB to anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. news. John anchored his last 11 p.m. newscast at WSB-TV on July 7, 2010, ending a 41 year run as a late news anchor.
John has a history degree from Davidson College and has received many awards for his anchoring and reporting. He has won ten Emmys, including Best Male Anchor and Best Documentary; five Sigma Delta Chi Quill Awards; the UPI Award for his coverage of Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign and coverage of a north Georgia airliner crash; the Georgia Winner Award for Public Service; Father of the Year, Pioneer Broadcaster Award from the University of Georgia journalism school; the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Radio Arts and Sciences; an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from Presbyterian College (2004) and the Distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting Award from Digamma Kappa at University of Georgia School of Journalism (2006).
John is an active volunteer with many groups, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Literacy Action, and Adopt-a-Golden Atlanta.
John and his wife, Andrea, have been married for 41 years and have two daughters, Kristina and Lisa and five grandchildren. And the Pruitt's have two Golden Retrievers.