Jeff Passolt

Inducted 2018

As a Minnesota native who grew up in St. Louis Park with five brothers, Jeff Passolt took part in just about every competitive outdoor activity and sport available. “Somehow my parents managed to keep us out of trouble!”

Jeff attended St. Cloud State University, where he spent four years playing hockey for the Huskies and still ranks amongst the school’s all-time leading scorers. He is now a member of the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as the St. Louis Park Athletic Hall of Fame. SCSU is also where he got his first taste of television in TV production classes.

Jeff’s television career began in 1981, when he got his first job at WTCN-TV/ Channel 11 spending fourteen years covering Minnesota sports, and later becoming Sports Director in 1992.

In 1994, Jeff left the Twin Cities to become Sports Director at KMGH-TV in Denver. He was named Outstanding Sportscaster by the Colorado Ski Association and Sportscaster of the Year by Associated Press in 1995.

In 1996, he was persuaded to return to the Twin Cities by KMSP-TV, where he made the transition to News Anchor. As a result of his hard work and dedication, Jeff won an Emmy for Best News Anchor in 1997 and 2004, as well as several other TV awards.

Behind the scenes, Jeff enjoys spending time with local charities. He hosts the CMN Champions Telethon and is the Honorary Chairman for America’s Walk for Diabetes and the MS Walk. Additionally, he serves on the Board of the Jeff Passolt Golf Classic Fore Diabetes, which has raised over $7-million dollars for the University of Minnesota Diabetes Institute.