Columbus Zoo Director Emeritus Jack Hanna made his final appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday.
Hanna let 10TV join him on his final trip to New York City for the show.
He said they stay at the same hotel every time they visit, about a tenth of a mile away from the famous Ed Sullivan Theatre.
The walk is just one of many rituals Hanna does the morning of an appearance on David Letterman.
He also takes a stroll through Central Park, eats his favorite chicken noodle soup and a cookie.
Hanna said he also stops inside the famous deli next to the theatre every time to say hi to Rupert, the owner made famous by visits from Letterman.
When the taping ended Wednesday night, Jack, along with Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Promotions Director Suzi Rapp, said it was a bitter sweet day.
"It's almost like, it's over," Hanna said. "Suzi and I, we'll be doing something else, nothing will be like the last 30 years. The memories, memories. And here, we work with the same people at the Columbus Zoo, same with them. So it's really kind of sad."
From the moment Jack Hanna walked out onto the show, you could see his eyes start to well up, and he actually had to wipe away a few tears.
Jack told 10TV the hardest part came when Dave started to play some of the clips dating back 30 years.
But Jack Hanna's appearance on the show meant a lot to people living in Ohio as well. Karen and Mike Taylor made the 1,200 mile trip from Troy, Ohio to New York, just to watch this final tribute to both men.
"I kind of felt for him in a way when he broke down when Letterman showed him his picture on the thing, that made it more worthwhile to see him," Mike Taylor said.
To honor Dave for allowing him to visit more than 100 times over the past 30 years, Hanna announced during the show that he named a new baby rhino born at The Wilds after Letterman. Hanna said this is the first white rhino ever born outside of the continent of Africa.
Hanna also gave Letterman a lifetime membership to both the Wilds and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. He brought Zoo wine for the Late Show staff. And Hanna gave Dave a special shirt.
Hanna said, "This shirt has been on every continent on the world. Look at the holes I patched up! I've never done this at auctions for charities, 25-years-old, arm pits don't even smell! I cleaned it."
