Asheville TV reporter Sherrill Barber announces he’s hanging up fedora, retiring Sept. 30

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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sherrill_barber_2014_ashevilleSherrill Barber, a reporter for WLOS TV for the past 37 years, has announced his retirement on Facebook. Here’s what he said:

After 37 years of reporting for WLOS News 13, I am pleased to announce I will retire September 30th. Pleased, because I am blessed to have spent an entire career at a job where every morning I woke up and said, “Oh boy!” Reporting rewards reporters with daily adventures, listening to people tell their stories, and linking video to what they’re willing to share.sherrill_barber_asheville_3_2014

I owe any measure of success to every person who spoke to me about that day’s joys and concerns, who trusted me to get their facts straight and true, who believed in their American right to speak freely, and who agreed with the spirit of objectivity that demands other sides to their stories. Working with me are the finest photographers in the business, the producers who refine and correct my messy scripts, the teams who manufacture and sell our signals, and the managers who help decide what’s reasonable and important. They have taught me well, and I plan to turn my video reporting in the future to some channel where I set my own deadlines.

But my primary mission now becomes the greatest adventure of all: the call to serve. So many people here and abroad need help. That’s the reason I plunged into television. Now, I hope to work more closely with those who follow the tenants of my faith, in the words of John Wesley: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”sherrill_barber_fedora_asheville_2014

Sherrill’s deep community connections will surely be missed at WLOS. So will his reporting, which rarely verged into the sensational (imho) despite the pressures of television news. I am fond of referring to Sherrill as “Sheraldo,” my Geraldo Rivera reference, but that’s only because with his sold reporting and use of every muscular verb in the book, Sherrill could make the most mundane City Council story sound like the Second Coming. Sherrill’s fedora, which he broke out in times of inclement weather, will also be missed.

Cheers, Sherrill. I’ll miss you on the beat. Good luck, and let me know if I can help.

 

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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3 Comments

  1. Carrie Elkins September 30, 2014

    I going to watching sherill barber on wlos news 13 on abc, channel have a good very retired,and to allways. on news 13 channel.your fan carrie elkins.

    Reply
  2. Radio Follower September 21, 2014

    Great guy! And solid reporter, to boot.

    Reply
  3. Melissa September 15, 2014

    Godspeed, Sherrill! You’re one of the best WLOS has ever had.

    Reply

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