After 23 years at WESH in Orlando, Anchor Jim Payne signed off for the final time on Friday.

Payne announced in the May book that he was going to retire and now the end has come.

Payne started at the Hearst station back in 2000 as the weekend Anchor and moved his way up to the main gig.

“My wife and I have been talking about retirement for some time now, but only recently did I actually start listening,” Payne said, “My mentors and friends all told me I’d know when the time was right, and they were certainly correct. The time goes by so fast. One day we’re raising young boys, the next, we’re making plans around grandchildren. I have been blessed beyond belief professionally, working with some of the most talented people in broadcast journalism, working at a great big powerful TV station that uses its powers for good."