Longtime KHQ (Spokane) morning Anchor Sean Owsley will walk off the set for the last time at the end of May after 27 years of doing the news.

He says he wants to spend more time with his family.

“It’s been tremendous,” he said, expressing his appreciation for the faith KHQ placed in him over the years. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at without their embracing me and propelling me each step of the way.”

But the 2:30 a.m. alarm necessary for his early morning call times had become a dealbreaker. “No matter how you approach it, it does make you tired,” he said. “My son’s older now and I want to be able to stay up and be with him and enjoy his college years.”

The station has already found his replacement and they went over to the sports department to find him.

Owsley will be replaced by Sam Adams, KHQ’s longtime director of sports. “Sam and I have gotten along since day one, and to pass the baton along to somebody that you respect, you can’t ask for more than that,” Owsley said.

Some of the greatest highlights of Owsley’s career, he said, have involved the many colleagues he has come to call friends over the years and the constant camaraderie of the newsroom.

“Working with Kalae (Chock) and Leslie (Lowe) the last six years has really, for me, been the pinnacle of my career,” he said, referring to his co-anchor and KHQ’s chief forecaster. “It’s like, you’re going to work, but you’re not even really working. We put in some long hours and work very hard, but, working with people that are kind to you, that care about you outside your profession, care about your families, that’s really been a highlight for me. “I’ve been through some really tough personal losses, (but) I’ve always found that people are so kind and supportive.”

Owsley says he will take the summer off to spend time with his wife Sara and their children, dabbling in freelance work for KHQ, and regroup in the fall.

“The bottom line is I’ve been blessed, I’ve been lucky and I’m so thankful for everybody that chose to watch the news and allowed me to present it to them,” he said. “I’ve loved the interaction, and most importantly when I met people in person, the kindness they’ve shown me, the smiles and hugs. That is something you take with you to whatever’s next.”

H/T The Spokesman