KWWL evening anchor Ron Steele is leaving the Waterloo, Iowa NBC affiliate after more than 50 years as a broadcast journalist.

Steele joined the station in 1974 as sports director before moving to the evening anchor role. Currently, he anchors the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

“KWWL has been very generous to me and my family, and has given me some amazing opportunities to cover news, weather and sports over these five decades,” said Steele.

In 2013, Steele helped launch a Sunday morning broadcast known as The Steele Report. The program features deeper coverage on Iowans making news, and the topics that impact people across the state. 

“Ron is an icon among Iowans with an undeniable legacy,” said news director Andrew Altenbern. “To this day, he’s not afraid to pick up a camera and go out the door to shoot video for an assignment. He’s a true leader within the newsroom,” he said.

His final day with KWWL will be Thursday, February 27.