COMMAERNTTARY
Refire Not Retire
By John Wilson
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
| TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139
John Wilson
It is the second anniversary of my retirement from
television. But the word “retirement” needs some
adjustment. “Re-firement” is more accurate as I have
been recharged to direct my energies and imagination
to my family, to my wife of 50 years who supported me
through all those long hours and long trips to Saudi Arabia
and Moscow, and, of course, to our six talented
grandchildren who have recharged us all.
I also have an office in my son’s ad agency, Wilson Media,
and have been producing and writing commercials,
documentaries and feature films. I am finding it a real
treat now to volunteer, helping other organizations plan
and emcee programs. Mary K and I still sing a bit here
and there, but our yard has never looked so good. I never
imagined I would ever have a career in landscaping, but
I have found a new “me.” I can’t tell you how rewarding
it is to plant something I can’t pronounce and watch it
grow into a beautiful flower. We now have time to do
some of the things we have always wanted to do, like
spending more time with our friends and family at my
family home in Virginia, which we have not always been
able to do because of my demanding schedule. My career
in television news literally “anchored” me to my job when
most people were with their families and friends. Mary K
is still teaching voice to more than a dozen promising
students while recovering from a debilitating wrist break
that happened shortly after I retired. It took some hard
work to get her back on the keyboard at home. Therapy
and medical appointments, along with regular shopping
trips, would have been impossible for her at the time
if I had been working. Luckily, I had time to drive her
wherever she needed to go. We made it through that and
now we are moving on to more exciting and fun things,
because this is retirement. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Wilson ended 50 plus years of radio
and television news broadcasting with his final goodbye
on WTVT Fox 13 on November 26, 2014, the day before
Thanksgiving.