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Jerry Taff

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Jerry Taff

By Mike Jacobs

Former Channel 12 anchor Jerry Taff is enjoying retirement in Texas. It's a bit warmer there. "This is one of the nice things. It's a pleasure to be able to drive with the top down in January. This is nice," he tells our Mike Jacobs, as they tool around in Taff's convertible. Jerry Taff is living large. He's got a hot Corvette and a great house near San Antonio. And he says he's loving retirement. He took Mike Jacobs on a tour of his new town. First, San Antonio's famous river walk. Taff grew up in Texas, and the Lone Star state called him back home. Jacobs asked him the loaded question. "Do you miss Milwaukee?" "Of course I miss Milwaukee," he said. "It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It really is. I miss the food. I miss the lake. I miss the people." Jerry loved being on TV in Milwaukee. But he's not looking back. When we asked him if he misses television, he shook his head no, "Not a little bit. Not an instant. But when people say that can't be true... Listen 40 years of French silk pies is too much chocolate. You know." Jerry loves Texas history. He's studying to become a tour guide at the Alamo. "To Texans, this is virtually a sacred shrine. You take your hat off. You keep your voice down when you go inside." Jerry retired 18 months ago, after 26 years in Milwaukee. He had a colorful style all his own. People either loved him, or... "They hated me," Jerry said. "That's real. That's real. That's why they have McDonalds and Wendy's next door to each other and they both can make a living." He is perhaps best known for his trademark sign-off: "better tomorrows". And now, in retirement, Jerry Taff is having his own "better tomorrows." Mike asked, "Can you give us a better tomorrow?" "I can," Jerry said. "Good night Mike. And better tomorrows."