SOUTHFIELD — Stephen Clark, a multi-platform journalist, announced that he’ll be retiring at the end of February. Clark worked in broadcast journalism for more than 40 years, covering events such as the Los Angeles riots, the California wildfires and 9/11.

“Stephen has been a valued member of the 7 Action News team and has made a tremendous impact on our station and the Detroit community,” Mike Murri, WXYZ and WMYD vice president and general manager, said. “We wish Stephen the very best as he begins this exciting new chapter of his life. We will certainly miss him here at Channel 7.”

Clark also created the Scarlet’s Smile Foundation, an organization devoted to finding a cure for spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that affects his granddaughter, Scarlet.

Currently the organization is working toward building a playground in Oakland County for children of all kinds.

“I’m looking forward to having time to spend with my family, playtime with Scarlet, dinners with my wife, Larenne, and a beer on the golf course with my dad – just two old retired guys,” Clark said.

“I’ll miss my coworkers, but mostly I’ll miss the viewers. For my 16 years at WXYZ, they are the reason I’ve come in every night. We’ve shared the victories of our community and mourned the losses, together.”