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After nearly 25 years at WESH-Channel 2, reporter Bob Kealing is departing to focus on other projects. His final day at the NBC affiliate will be Friday.

Twenty-five years is a line of demarcation, Kealing told me Monday night. Its scary any time you try to jump off in a new venture.

Kealing has had a long, admired career at the NBC affiliate, received five Emmys for his work and shared in two Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards. He delivered some of his most memorable reporting the morning of the Pulse nightclub shooting in June.

In announcing his resignation, WESH news director Kirsten Wolff told the staff that Kealing helped lead coverage on some of the region's biggest stories -- including the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials and the Pulse nightclub shootings.

She also noted: While Bob has been a local news warrior, he also has developed a second career as an author, penning books on Tupperware, Elvis and Graham Parsons to name a few. That writing career is what Bob is focusing on now. He's got several book -- and book extension -- plans in the works and he is active in two nonprofits which are also gaining traction.

Kealing said he hopes to have news soon about those projects.

Tupperware Unsealed, his 2008 book on pioneering businesswoman Brownie Wise, became Life of the Party when it was re-released last year. A movie version remains in development.

His most recent book, Elvis Ignited, examines Floridas importance in the career of Elvis Presley.

Kealing also wrote "Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock," which came out in 2012, and "Kerouac in Florida: Where the Road Ends," which was published in 2004.

His 25th anniversary at WESH would be in July. He revealed his news via Facebook Monday night. He wrote:

Friday will be my last day at WESH-TV. After 25 years of unforgettable stories and working with a fantastic group of people, I'd like to take a step back and refocus my career. Short term, I'm excited about some opportunities tied to my work as a published author. I also plan to further my historic preservation pursuits through two nonprofits I've been close to for years: the Jack Kerouac Project of Orlando and Gram Parsons' Derry Down in Winter Haven. I'm so thankful to all my friends at WESH and I know those friendships will continue. Now, it's on to new adventures!

In her announcement, Wolff said of Kealing: We will miss his professionalism, his breaking-news drive and his presence. He's been a fantastic journalist, co-worker and friend.

In an October story about veteran reporters at WESH, Kealing talked about why he had stayed here. "It's a great news town," he told me.

He said reporting on Pulse had left a deep impression: "To witness one of the worst events in this city's history, then to see all the love and unity this soulful town has shown in response, reinforced my belief that the decision to stay in Orlando and at WESH was for all the right reasons."

hboedeker@orlandosentinel.com

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