WATCH: TV reporter Mike Lyons retires from First Coast News after 39 years on the job

A veteran journalist who spent his 39-year career in Jacksonville is retiring from First Coast News.

Jacksonville native Mike Lyons hung up his microphone on Friday after working as a reporter, photographer, sports producer, sports anchor and assignment editor since 1976 at almost all of the city's television news operations.

"It won't be easy, but I can [retire] and I am," Lyons said. "... I am sure there will be times that I will miss it, especially when there is a big exciting story. I have all the energy and can run with the best of them. But I am looking forward to doing some projects around the house, travel and do whatever I want."

The 59-year-old journalist received his journalism degree at Florida State University in 1976.

He interned at WTLV-TV for $75 a week, then was hired by WJKS-TV, the former NBC affiliate in Jacksonville, in 1976. He stayed there for 20 years - as reporter for 11 years, sports producer for two, then seven and a half years as weekend anchor. Part of that time was when WJKS-TV also did the FOX-30 newscast.

He left WJKS-TV in 1996, then became nighttime assignment editor at WJXT-TV for five years.

He joined First Coast News in 2001, working as an assignment editor until one night seven years ago when he had to run out on a story as reporter.

Most recently he's been a multimedia reporter, shooting his own stories.

Station personnel held a retirement party for him on Friday.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549