After 28 years at WFSB, anchor Al Terzi said goodbye to the Hartford CBS-affiliate on Friday.

WFSB played a video tribute to Terzi’s career during its evening newscasts on Friday before bidding farewell to the longtime anchor.

“You’ve always been a professional. You’ve always been a gentleman. You’ve always been a friend,” anchor Denise D’Ascenzo told Terzi. “And I’ll cherish my time that I’ve worked with you.”

Terzi, who most recently anchored WFSB’s 5 and 5:30 p.m. newscasts, first joined the station in the summer of 1968. After jobs at a couple of other stations, he returned to WFSB in 1993.

As was reported last week, Terzi and WFSB were unable to agree on the terms of a new contract.

In saying goodbye on Friday, Terzi emphasized that his departure wasn’t retirement.

“What happens to you is not as important as what you do with what happens to you,” Terzi told viewers. “I could retire, of course, but I do want to keep going.”

Here’s the video…

For more on Terzi’s farewell, check out WFSB anchor Dennis House’s blog.