WCIU-Channel 26\u2019s <\/a>7 p.m. newscast, which is produced by ABC 7.<\/p>\nNo successor has been announced, but meteorologists Cheryl Scott and Larry Mowry are expected to pick up where Taft leaves off.<\/p>\n
Taft is the third longtime TV weatherman to announce his retirement in recent weeks, following Steve Baskerville of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 and Jim Ramsey of Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9.<\/p>\n
Here is the text of Taft\u2019s email to colleagues:<\/strong><\/p>\nHey everybody,<\/em><\/p>\nIt has been a great run, but all good things eventually come to an end. So my last day will be January 19th. However I have to admit that when I left the Air Force I could never imagine... 42 years on Chicago television and 34 years on ABC 7 Chicago.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nIt\u2019s been a joy walking into ABC7 everyday knowing that it\u2019s not work, but being with my extended family. When I first arrived here we had elevator operators. The newsroom was full of smoke and the hum of IBM Selectric typewriters. No computers. The scripts went to the set in pneumatic tubes. 35mm film was being spliced together for air and weather was presented on maps drawn by the art department. We have come a long way and I\u2019ve been here the whole time. Amazing.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nWhile I still have my health, wit and vitality it\u2019s time to hang out with my real family, assuming they still remember me. And I also need to hit the golf course while I still have a single digit handicap. I want to thank everyone for their love and support and wish all a happy holiday.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nJerry<\/em><\/p>\nHere is the text of Graves\u2019s memo to staff:<\/strong><\/p>\nThose of you in the news department have probably already seen Jerry Taft\u2019s memo announcing that he\u2019s winding down his time here at ABC 7.\u00a0 Jerry\u2019s last day on the air will be Friday, January 19, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\nI can\u2019t say enough about Jerry\u2019s contributions to our station over the past three decades.\u00a0 He\u2019s earned the trust and respect of our viewers with his forecasting skills.\u00a0 And he\u2019s won a spot in their hearts with his one-of-a-kind personality. Then there\u2019s his laugh; what more can I say about that! He\u2019s a true communicator who has become part of our viewers\u2019 lives.<\/em><\/p>\nJerry wanted today\u2019s announcement to be low-key.\u00a0You can read more about his career in the attached release and for those of you who didn\u2019t receive Jerry\u2019s email, the text is below.\u00a0And please enjoy the photos that are attached.<\/em><\/p>\nWe\u2019ll celebrate Jerry\u2019s career in the new year, Jerry-style.<\/em><\/p>\nFor now, let\u2019s all wish Jerry the best and congratulate him on a job well-done!<\/em><\/p>\n