OAKLAND, Calif. -- As retirement day draws near for iconic Bay Area newsman Dennis Richmond, KTVU Channel 2 looks back at his extraordinary career to examine why the station's longtime anchorman is so respected by his colleagues and loved by viewers.

Dennis Richmond is one of the most recognizable people in Northern California. For decades, his straight-forward, no-nonsense manner of delivering the evening news has been a constant in an ever-changing world.

Dennis has been holding down the anchor chair longer than any other anchorman or woman in the history of Bay Area television.

It was 1968 when a young Dennis Richmond, then a college educated military veteran from near Toledo, Ohio, first arrived on the scene in San Francisco with only $400 in his pocket. He landed a job at KTVU as a part-time clerk typist and soon began hitting the streets covering local news.

Through the years, Dennis evolved, as did KTVU Channel two and the broadcasting industry. Now in his 40th year at KTVU -- 32 of those as the main anchor for the station -- his longevity provides a window to some of the biggest stories of our time.

In 1978, in the wake of political assassinations that rocked San Francisco, Dennis was interviewing the attorney for Supervisor Dan White when the lawyer suggested that other supervisors carried firearms at City Hall. The enterprising young journalist didn't hesitate to ask point blank: "Do you know if the other people who do carry weapons also carry ten extra rounds in their pocket?"

When the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake hit and power went out, Dennis and co-anchor Elaine Corral broadcast from the station parking lot. When they returned to the studio that night, they stayed there providing critical information about the strongest earthquake to rock Northern California since 1906.

A couple of years later, when a deadly firestorm swept through the East Bay hills, Dennis once again remained steady and composed delivering the devastating news.

In times such as this communication can bond a community, whether it's local or national. Dennis has interviewed governors and some of the most influential people of our time.

Typically he doesn't bring his personal life into the newsroom, but that changed recently when Dennis decided that after 40 years he was ready to leave the KTVU anchor chair for good.

He delivered the news first to co-workers and later that evening shared it with viewers. Soon after that announcement, came a brush with cancer this past winter. Dennis underwent surgery in January and returned to anchor the Ten O'Clock News about five weeks later.

In February, Dennis graciously waved to fans in San Francisco as he rode in the Chinese New Year Parade as honorary Grand Marshal.

The television industry has changed. The sets have changed. Those sitting in the chair next to him have changed. But one thing has remained the same for 40 years.

And that is the integrity and credibility that viewers know is the essence of Dennis Richmond. His departure on May 21 will mark the end of an era in Bay Area television news. And will be a sad day for those of us who listen to him sign-off the evening newscast for the last time.