"I wish I could do this forever. I can't, though," he said.
CBS News announced last week that the 92-year-old would be stepping down from his well-entrenched berth on "60 Minutes" after delivering his 1,097th commentary.
"I probably haven't said anything here that you didn't already know or have already thought," he said. "That's what a writer does. A writer's job is to tell the truth."
Rooney said in his farewell piece that he has lived a lucky life, luckier than most. But befitting his trademark crotchety nature, he voiced one parting complaint: He doesn't like being famous, nor does he like being bothered by fans.
"I spent my first 50 years trying to become well known as a writer, and the next 30 trying to avoid being famous," he said. "I walk down the street now or go to a football game and people shout, `Hey, Andy!' And I hate that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
