Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Anchor Pam Huff announces retirement after more than 40 years in Alabama
More than four decades after introducing herself to central Alabama, ABC 33/40 anchor + managing editor Pam Huff announced her retirement from television. She made the announcement during Wednesday’s 5PM newscast.
“I have spent 50 years working as a journalist, 47 of those years right here in Birmingham. Talking to you, telling you about your community and your world. We’ve been through a lot together. You gave a 24-year-old woman a chance in what was then a man’s profession… you supported me as I honed my reporting and anchoring skills. And most recently, you prayed for me and you offered words of encouragement as I successfully battled breast cancer. There is no adequate way to say thank you because without you, I would’ve never made it all these decades in the news business.”
~ Pam Huff
Huff, who posted about celebrating her 71st birthday earlier this month, will remain on air for the next couple of weeks with her last show happening May 24.
Huff’s years of service to Alabama
After graduating from West Virginia University with a broadcast degree, Huff worked in Huntingdon, WV + Tampa, Florida before moving to Birmingham. She was tasked with serving as a co-anchor for the evening show on NBC 13, making Huff the state’s first female ever assigned to a prime time nightly news anchor chair at the age of 24.
“The stories that truly made a difference came from you. I got to tell your stories, share your joys and sometimes your tears. It has been an amazing career. I got to do the first live shot ever done in the state. I was here when each of the stations I worked for got a helicopter. I have done newscasts at every time of the day and night… and for each of those moments, again, I say thank you, I cherish the time I have spent with you. And I hope after all these years, you consider me a friend.”
~ Pam Huff
Huff stayed with NBC as it transitioned into its current state as WVTM. In 1996, she moved to newly created station WBMA—better known as ABC 33/40.
Huff was also the first reporter to ever do a live shot in the state of Alabama. During her time at ABC, Huff served as:
- Good Morning Alabama host
- Focus at 4 host
- 4PM and 5PM news anchor
- Managing editor
“She is an EMMY-award winning journalist. In 2007, she was honored as the first female in Alabama to be inducted into the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences ‘Silver Circle.’ It is an award that recognizes television professionals who have worked 25 years or more in the industry and have made significant contributions to the southern regional news market.”
~ ABC 33/40
Fight with breast cancer
In July 2022, Huff announced on air that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said doctors considered the cancer to be aggressive and she used her own experience to remind women everywhere to get annual mammograms.
She went through chemotherapy which included losing her hair—and an entertaining trip to the wig shop with some other members of the ABC 33/40 news team. About a year ago, Huff announced on air that the chemo, radiation treatments and surgery were successful and she returned to the anchor desk without the wig.
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