Rick Karle, a beloved media personality and co-host of WVTM 13 morning news in Birmingham, said goodbye to his television audience on Friday with a quote from “The Gambler,” the 1978 hit by Kenny Rogers.

Clearly, this is a guy who knows when to hold ‘em, knows when to fold ‘em, and knows when to walk away when he’s decided the dealing’s done.

“I’m very excited about the future,” Karle said in an interview with AL.com. “I have a lot of opportunities ahead of me. I’ve just got to figure out what I’m doing and exactly what direction I’m going. But in this day and age, there’s so many different outlets — social media, YouTube channels, podcasts, and Facebook — there’s a lot of different ways to do things now. So (it’s) very emotional, very difficult, but it’s exciting at the same time.”

Karle, a 43-year TV veteran who has specialized in sports coverage and human interest stories, announced in October that he’d be leaving the NBC station. “Nothing more than a lifestyle thing,” Karle said in his announcement. “It’s just that time.”

He’s not exactly retiring, although viewers will no longer see him on WVTM’s morning broadcasts alongside co-anchor Carla Wade, meteorologist Stephanie Walker and traffic anchor Sarah Killian. (Watch WVTM’s video tribute to Karle and see his farewell moments here.)

Karle, 65, said he plans to stay in touch with fans via his Facebook page, which currently has almost 300,000 followers. He’s found a devoted audience in the digital world, sharing multiple stories per day, many of them human interest pieces that tug on the heartstrings of folks looking for a little good in a cynical world.

“I’ll continue to write on this very Facebook page — it may look a little different, but you can continue to visit me right here,” Karle said in a post on Friday, shortly after 6 a.m. “I may write a book, and I have many other projects in the works. Thanks for investing in me on TV and on Facebook. … See you soon, as looking ahead I plan on following my heart.”

Karle also encouraged followers to reach out to him with story ideas for “Rick Karle’s Good News,” a slogan emphasized by a photo at the top of his Facebook page.

READ: Rick Karle’s Facebook takeover: ‘The world is tough. People like good news’

Karle continued to share his feelings on Friday afternoon, with a Facebook post that featured photos of the WVTM building and studio. “So long, my friend — you’ve been so good to me — I’m very proud of you,” Karle wrote. “Give my best to all my friends inside. Keep grinding, and I’ll be watching. #toughday.”

“My goal today was to stay upbeat and happy and looking forward to the future, but you have to remember, I was not only leaving channel 13 after four years — the good people there — I was leaving television, which is pretty much what I’ve known for 43 years. So that was very difficult for me,” Karle told AL.com.

“On my way out, I drove back around to the front of channel 13 and I took a picture of the station, and I put something on Facebook like, ‘You’ve been good to me, buddy.’ And I really kind of lost it. … I just didn’t know it would be that difficult because that’s all you know.”

Karle had traced his journalism career in the earlier post on Facebook, which started with advice from his father about enjoying his chosen field and working hard to achieve his goals. Here’s the full text of that message:

It was 1976 and my father told me to follow my heart.

I was about to enter college, and he reminded me as I chose a career, remember to enjoy the field I chose.

He also told me if I outworked the others I would be fine.

Since I never received a call from Aerosmith to be their drummer, I followed my heart and chose journalism.

I never took a TV class in college, but I talked my way into the sports anchor position at a tiny NBC affiliate in Hanover, New Hampshire.

It was 1980 and I was paid $200 a week.

43 years after I followed my heart, it’s time to give my heart a rest.

Today is my last day at WVTM13, as I’m stepping away from local TV for now.

I don’t like to say the word retirement, for I plan on following up on many opportunities.

I’m proud of how I poured my heart into the business — I never ended up being a bigtime national star, but I was blessed to enjoy some crazy times — one story comes to mind as I write this, as it literally pertains to my heart.

Years ago I had 2 stents put in my heart after suffering a heart attack, and I talked the doctor into releasing me from the hospital the next day, which was a Friday (I was supposed to be released on Saturday).

“It’s the season premiere of my high school football show,” I told the doctor.

“I can’t miss anchoring this show,” I insisted.

“I’ll tell you what — if you have your wife drop you off at the back door just behind the station about 9:30 pm and just sit and read the hi-lites, I’ll let you do it,” said the doctor.

I changed out of my hospital gown late Friday afternoon, and later that night my wife dropped me off at the back door.

I was dizzy and lightheaded during the show, but I got through it — no one at the station knew about my ordeal because I didn’t tell anyone.

It’s crazy what you do when broadcasting gets in your blood.

The thing I’ll miss the most about leaving WVTM13 is the people.

My morning co-hosts Carla, Steph and Sarah have become my little sisters who I will love forever.

The wonderful, talented people here at the station have been a blessing, including WVTM13 President and GM Susana Schuler, who welcomed a sports anchor and turned him into a news anchor back in 2019.

So, what’s next for me?

I’ll continue to write on this very Facebook page — it may look a little different, but you can continue to visit me right here.

I may write a book, and I have many other projects in the works.

Thanks for investing in me on TV and on Facebook — be sure to continue to send me your story ideas on Messenger or email me at my new email address here: [email protected]

See you soon, as looking ahead I plan on following my heart.

And making my dad proud.

Karle, born and raised in Syracuse, New York, earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University Of New Hampshire. His television career began in 1980 in Hanover, New Hampshire, shortly after he finished college.

Karle remembers the station, WNNE in northern New England, on the bottom floor of a Holiday Inn with a coffee tables and a couple of chairs. “From the get-go, I just liked performing,” he said. “My parents were always very funny and outgoing, just thought of it as a way to vent and to entertain. And then as I matured, it also became a way for me to tell other people’s stories.”

Karle moved to Birmingham in 1989 and spent most of his career covering sports for WBRC Fox 6. In 2019, he joined WVTM 13 and became a morning news co-anchor. HIs career has let him meet high achievers in the sports world, even enjoying an on-air fishing trip with Nick Saban. Karle has covered The Masters, the World Series, several Super Bowls, college football national championship games, Wimbledon, Talladega races and more.

Karle is a winner of 25 regional Emmy Awards and was honored as a Silver Circle member in 2023. Karle also was recognized by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame with a Mel Allen Media Award, which honors media members who have made a lifetime contribution to sports through their work.

Karle has been married to Jill, an attorney, for 39 years. They live in Shelby County and have two children. Son Noah, 25, is a Vanderbilt University graduate currently serving in the Peace Corps in Mongolia. Mia, 22, is a New York University graduate with degrees in film production and environmental science, now living in Los Angeles “chasing the dream in Hollywood.”

Now, as he starts a new chapter in his life, Karle said his feelings about leaving television run to the bittersweet.

“I always know I have made the right decision, but that doesn’t make it easy because again, you’re close to those people. And the people are what make the difference,” Karle told AL.com. “The people at Channel 13 are wonderful. The good news is I’m not going anywhere. So I can have lunch with them and visit them often. I think that the moment of closure for me came about two hours (after my final TV appearance) when I had a chance to kind of sit back and look at the big picture and think to myself, you know, I worked as hard as I could for 43 years.

“And the television window isn’t totally closed,” Karle said. “There might be a time I might be back on a television network or station. But for right now, I’m looking to get my legs back and get some rest, and figure out what I’m going to do in the future, and I look forward to it.”