Hear the words of wisdom and advice, stories he won't forget and about a full life from the state's oldest employee, Bob Vollmer, who is retiring. Indianapolis Star

After 30 years at WTHR and nearly 50 years in journalism, reporter Kevin Rader announced Wednesday he will officially retire July 7.

"I think there just comes a time, and I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but there is just a voice inside that tells you when it's time," Rader said. "I still feel like I'm good at what I do, and I want to walk away when I still feel that way."

Rader grew up in Lexington, Nebraska, and first became interested in journalism when a high school counselorentered his classroom to announce a job opening at a local radio station.

"I went in after school to that councilor and said, 'You know, I'm really glad you walked in to tell me that, because I'd like to apply for that job,' and he said, 'Well you're the reason why I walked into that classroom,'" Rader said. "So, I always tell people, I don't know that I picked this business, I think this business picked me."

After graduating from the University of Nebraska Kearney, Rader spent time in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, before taking a job with WTHR and moving to Indiana in 1990.

He has since reported on a variety of topics from the Oklahoma City bombing to Hoosiers sending aid during the Bosnian Crisis.

"I'm so fortunate because I landed at one of the best premiere TV stations in America, I mean you literally were able to, if a big story broke, say 9/11, well I was there the next morning in New York City," he said. "I was there in the room when Donald Trump came down the escalator as president-elect of the United States, and for a farm kid from a small town in rural Nebraska, how could I have ever expected to have the world open up like that?"

Rader said his favorite part of the job, however, is sharing people's stories, like he gets to do through the series "Only in Indiana." Because of this, he plans to continue to write after he retires.

While he wants to continue to share the stories of individuals throughout Indiana, he also plans to write fiction based on stories he has encountered while reporting.

"If you cover the news business, which I have, all kinds of it, you see all differentkinds of life, and I want to write about that," Rader said. "I want to show people some things that maybe we don't get to put in our stories but are really compelling."

In retirement, Rader said he is looking forward to creating his own deadlines and being able to decide what direction he takes with coverage. And while he anticipates feeling slightly restless while he watches events unfold around him, he knows he will be able to feed that urge through his independent work.

When Rader shared on Facebook and Twitter thathis days in television are coming to a close, colleagues and viewers commented their well-wishes, appreciation for his work and sadness that he was leaving.

Met you in Greentown a few years ago..you were so kind, Sharon Shane replied on Twitter. You will be missed for your great stories and integrity in reporting.

On Rader's Facebook post, one of his followers expressed their surprise stating, "I wish you were kidding."

"July 7 will be a sad day in tv journalism," Jim Denny replied. "I have been informed, saddened, I have laughed and cried with your stories over the years! You are someone Indiana trusts."

Rader's accomplishments throughout his career include 32 Regional Emmy Awards as well as seven Regional and two National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

As his time at WTHR comes to a close, Rader said he has begun a count down to his last official day. And while he is sad that he will not be able to have a traditionalgoodbye due to COVID-19, it would have been "a little too emotional for me" anyway.

Among the lessons he has learned throughout his career, Raider said one of the most important is that other people's opinions should not deter them from pursuing their dream.

"If there's somebody out there who is saying, 'Well, you know I am stereotyped, I can't do this, I don't want to do this because I'm not the right type of person,' then that means you need to do it," Rader said.

Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Brooke Kemp at bkemp@gannett.com.Follow her on Twitter@brookemkemp.

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Kevin Rader announces retirement from WTHR after 30 years - IndyStar