After 44 long years, Ronnie Long walked out of prison Thursday afternoon a free man.

Shortly after his release, the newlyfree man went back to his old neighborhood in Concord. In fact, the house Long went back to after his release was his birth home.

Long's family and friends, who were eagerly waiting for him, gave him a warm welcome back.

A longtime classmate of Ronnie Long was at his coming home celebration and said he had just talked with Long last week.

"It feels absolutely marvelous, his friend said. "In the words of Tony the Tiger, it feels great."

WCNC Charlotte also spoke exclusively with Long's one and only son, Anthony Spears.

Spears was just three years old when his father was arrested and told us he only has vague memories of his father before his time in prison. He said it's now time to make new memories.

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