WTVT History

After 37 years on the air with FOX 13, Kelly Ring says her final goodbye before retirement.

May 25 will be Kelly Ring's final newscast before retiring, and she is making her rounds, saying farewell to the FOX 13 family. She stopped by Good Day Tampa Bay to chat with the morning crew and look back on her career.

For people lucky enough to know Kelly Ring, they know she is – above all – a mom. FOX 13 viewers have watched her kids grow up, so we wanted to get her family's take on Kelly's career, from her husband of 27 years, Ed, to Clark, Kendall and Raleigh.

Kelly Ring looks back on her journey to Saudi Arabia during the build up to Operation Desert Storm.

The Ray family learned their three boys had contracted HIV from blood transfusions and were diagnosed with AIDS. At the time, little was known about the disease, other than it was fatal. FOX 13’s Kelly Ring interviewed the family after they were thrust into the national spotlight and spoke with them again, nearly 40 years later.

Back in 1991, three young boys who developed AIDS after contracting HIV from blood transfusions were told they couldn't come to school, but a Florida court said they had to be allowed back. FOX 13's Kelly Ring joined them as they rejoined their classmates.

In the late 1980s, little was known about HIV and AIDS. A Central Florida family may have moved public awareness forward after their small children contracted the disease from blood transfusions. They're looking back on their tragedy and the hope they gained for others.

In 1992, FOX 13's Kelly Ring interviewed a teen who contracted HIV and developed AIDS after a blood transfusion. Ricky Ray and his family made their battle with the disease public.

She may have anchored the news for three decades, but FOX 13’s Kelly Ring has also reported stories all over the globe. As she nears retirement, we’re revisiting some of her most important journalistic works. 

FOX 13's Kelly Ring and a crew of journalists were able to enter Cuba to cover the PanAm Games in the 1990s, but they were also able to cover the conditions of everyday Cubans living in poverty.

In 1991, Cuba was trying to establish normalcy on the heels of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, but people living in the communist country were desperate to be in contact with loved ones in the United States – many in the Bay Area. FOX 13 was able to obtain visas to cover the PanAm Games, however, Kelly Ring and her crew were also able to document the living conditions for Cubans.

After the original 1950s-era building became a bit cramped, WTVT moved into new studios in 1989. We took the opportunity to highlight our involvement in the community, which is still an important part of our business.