ABC7 Chicago sports director, anchor Jim Rose retires after 41 years

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Jim Rose, sports director and anchor of ABC7 Chicago's 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, announced his retirement, capping off a 41-year career at WLS.

ABC7 Chicago sports director and anchor Jim Rose announced his retirement on Monday. He has covered many of the Cubs, Bulls' and Blackhawks best.

Rose anchored his final sportscast at 10 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Some big names in sports and people Jim Rose has impacted throughout his career wished him well in his retirement.

"The excellence Jim has shown as a reporter in the locker room and behind the anchor desk has been invaluable to us as a station. But even more important, Jim has served as a role model for countless young men in our community. Thank you, J.R., for these four remarkable decades," ABC7 Chicago President and General Manager John Idler said.

Over his career, Jim Rose has sped down racetracks and soared through the air... sometimes with the greatest of ease, at least.

Rose joined ABC7 in 1982. During his tenure, he has covered defining moments in Chicago sports including the Bears Super Bowl, six Bulls championships, three Blackhawks Stanley Cups, and White Sox and Cubs World Series championships.

On the eve of his retirement, Jim Rose looked back at some of the major moments in his career and life.

"Jim has covered some of the biggest thrills in Chicago sports history with expertise and excitement," said Jennifer Graves, vice president of news at ABC7. "Chicago sports fans will never forget when he got drenched in champagne, courtesy of Michael Jordan, as we will never forget Jim's contributions to ABC 7 Chicago."

In addition to being the go-to authority on sports, Rose has played a key role in both the station's programming and charitable efforts.

For close to three decades, he has co-hosted the Bud Billiken Parade, one of the largest African American parades in the country.

He is a major contributor to ABC7's "Our Chicago," and has served as a host of ABC7's coverage of the Chicago Auto Show.

Jim Rose joins the ABC7 Morning News to look back on his four decades at the station.

As president of the Swan Group, one of Rose's proudest achievements was helping to build and finance the Swan House, a home he and his group donated to a single mother.

One of Rose's proudest achievements is helping to build and finance a home donated to a single mother.

Rose continues to volunteer his time to help many charitable groups throughout Chicagoland.

He began his career in sports broadcasting while serving in the U.S. Army, acting as sports director for AFN-TV in Berlin, West Germany.

Rose has three grandchildren; he and his wife, Lakesha Rose, live in Chicago.

"When I started my career, it was ring announcer Michael Buffer's famous line, 'Let's get ready to rumble.' As I close out 50-plus years in broadcasting, I will quote ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, 'It's time.' It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Chicagoland for over 41 years. I've had a ball!" Rose said.