FOX 9 Anchor To Retire After 23 Years

TWIN CITIES, MN — After 23 years, FOX 9 anchor Jeff Passolt is retiring from the station. The St. Louis Park began at KMSP in 1996. May 5 will be his last day at the station.

Passolt's first job in TV, after attending St. Cloud State University, was working as a sports anchor with WTCN. He later became the sports director for KARE 11.

After KARE, he spent three years at KMGH in Denver before coming back to Minnesota to work for KMSP.

"Earlier this year I realized I’d never catch Mark Rosen’s 50 years in the broadcast-media business, not to mention Tom Barnard, Charley Walters, Pat Reusse, Joe Soucheray and the legendary Sid Hartman," Passolt said in a statement Thursday.

"So after about 39 years I figured it’s someone else’s turn. Thank you to all who’ve invited me into their homes all these years and for helping a Minnesota kid make good. I couldn’t have done it without very talented co-workers and the support from the public. Recently, one of the coaches at the Final Four said, 'And don’t forget the haters. They make you better too.' So I say thanks to all who made the kind comments, but also my harshest critics. They all helped make me who I am today."