Jerry Hayes to retire from WHNT after 45 years

After 45 years of serving as a news anchor at WHNT, Jerry Hayes announced his retirement on Tuesday morning. Hayes will anchor his final newscast on Tuesday, March 26, four days before he celebrates his 70th birthday.

Hayes says it is time for him to “slow down” — to enjoy life and spend more time with his family and grandkids. The Huntsville community, including fellow reporters, gave their warm regards to Hayes in the comment section beneath his Facebook announcement.

Leaving a great legacy behind

Hayes has won two Emmy awards in his career and he was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle in 2010 for his contributions to the television industry.

He has reported from the White House and St. Petersburg, Russia and has interviewed celebrities such as Mark Hamill and Carol Burnett.

“People have asked me the past few years, why are you still working? The answer is simple. I love what I do. I enjoy telling stories and coming into your homes to bring you up to date on what has happened in our little part of the world each day.”

Jerry Hayes, news anchor, WHNT

Stay tuned

Hayes encourages viewers to “stay tuned” into News 19, stating they may still see him on the channel from time to time.

“I appreciate each and every one of you for watching all these years. You are part of our TV family. And I’ll see you down the road.”

Jerry Hayes, news anchor, WHNT

Stay in the know, Huntsville! Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok, Threads and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.