TYLER, Texas (KETK) – After more than 20 years at KETK/FOX51 in Tyler, Neal Barton is stepping away from the anchor desk.

Neal has experience being the driving force behind a newsroom and being the face of the organization, serving as both news director and anchor. For more than 20 years, the people of East Texas welcomed Neal into their homes with the good news and the bad, all delivered with his classic Piney Woods wit.

Outside of the regular evening newscasts, Neal also worked to put together weekly episodes of East Texas In Focus, an hourlong program that deep dives into topics that matter. You could also see him speaking his mind on regular segments of Neal Barton’s Point of View, or even see him going live in your town–with a KETK microphone and a cowboy hat, of course– for Small Town Salute Live segments.

He created a holiday initiative, Neal’s Wheels, which regularly brings in bike donations for local children in need. Last year, thanks to the generosity of locals, Neal’s Wheels brought in a record-breaking 206 bikes, scooters and skateboards for kids in need.

After decades of faithfully fulfilling his duties as a newsman to East Texas, Neal is stepping away to focus on the next chapter of this life. The staff at KETK and FOX51 wish him all the best moving forward.

During his final newscast on Jan. 26, Neal left with the following message:

When I was a boy growing up in Beaumont, Texas, radio was king. Disc jockeys played their own records and sold their own commercials. They even spoke at schools.

One particular jock was named Slim Watts. ‘Slimbo,’ he was called back then. After years of being on air, he suddenly disappeared from the airwaves. Everyone wondered what happened to Slim Watts. Then one day a friend of my dads thought they saw him at a hardware store separating nails. Was that Slimbo? Sure as heck was. He was even wearing a name plate saying ‘Slim.’ My dad’s friend walked over and said ‘Slim, what are you doing working here? Why aren’t you working at the radio station?‘

Slim smiled and said ‘I’ve said everything I had to say.‘

Let me say… after 45 years of being behind a microphone– 42 of that being on TV, 20 of that 42 being at KETK– I’ve said everything I have to say. At least for now, I’m retiring. I’m trading in this coat and tie for overalls for our land in Trinity County and chores around my Tyler house, too.

But as for TV, this time I won’t be right back.

Y’all be good to each other.

-Neal Barton