AUSTIN, Texas — For 40 years, former television anchor and public relations executive Neal Spelce has published the "Neal Spelce Austin Letter" – a roundup of Austin issues including the environment, business, technology and politics.
It has reached thousands of civic-minded Austin residents – first, through mail, and since 2000, online.
On Friday, 82-year-old Spelce released his final copy.
"I'm nostalgic, but I think that is tempered by the excitement of writing about so many different things," Spelce said.
He's embarking on a book-writing venture that will include stories from his life, including politicians and presidents he has interviewed, as well as coverage of the University of Texas tower shooting more than 50 years ago.
"It's about a thing or two, because I've seen a thing or two," Spelce wrote in his final newsletter. "It's a memoir. It will be about interesting events and people."
PHOTOS: Neal Spelce announces his retirement
Spelce said to dedicate his time to that project, he decided to give up the newsletter he began publishing in 1979.
He said he thought of it as a local version of the Kiplinger Washington Letter. For years, he printed and mailed the newsletter. In 2000, he started delivering it via the internet in a downloadable version.
Over the years, his number of subscribers reached several thousand.
Spelce said he doesn't have a date for when his book will be published.
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