Jim Handly to Retire From NBC Washington After 35 Years
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
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Jim Handly announced on air that he will retire from WRC-TV after the November midterms, closing a 35-year run anchoring the station's top newscasts.
The Announcement: 'Personal Breaking News' on Air
Jim Handly, the longtime anchor of NBC Washington's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, delivered what WTOP News calls "personal breaking news" on Monday's broadcast: he will retire after the November midterm elections, ending a 35-year career at WRC-TV.
"It's been quite a run, bringing you the news, with the best team in the business," Handly said on air, according to WTOP. "These are some of the people who always had my back as I've had theirs. We have built some amazing memories here."
SSBCrack News reports the announcement came as a heartfelt live moment, with the anchor reflecting on decades of shared history with viewers.
Why the Departure Stuns D.C. Viewers
For a devoted local-audience readership, this is a genuine upset: an anchor so embedded in the region's routine that his farewell echoes a changing of the guard at WRC-TV.
WTOP News reports that Handly covered presidential inaugurations, major elections, hurricanes, and championship celebrations for the Nationals and Capitals — the shared civic moments viewers associate with his voice.
His timing is the surprising twist: rather than stepping aside quietly, he chose a signature exit, telling viewers, per SSBCrack News, "But you know what they say about all good things. I'm hanging up my hat for retirement."
WTOP notes the announcement trended sharply among Washington audiences searching for details of his departure.
The Record Behind the Man at the Desk
According to SSBCrack News, Handly's career has not gone unnoticed: he has received multiple Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award recognizing his excellence in journalism.
Both outlets describe him as a familiar face in the region, providing coverage of significant events including natural disasters, inaugurations, and triumphant moments for local sports teams.
What Comes Next for the Anchor Desk
Neither outlet names a successor, so viewers are left watching the countdown.
SSBCrack News notes that many are already reflecting on the memorable moments he has shared over the decades, and WTOP's account of his sign-off — gratitude for a team that "always had my back" — frames the retirement as a personal farewell rather than a professional pivot.
For now, the station's defining voice has roughly one more month of newscasts remaining.