Peter Jackel’s last day at The Journal Times of Racine was Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 — retiring after nearly 46 years as a sports reporter.
Jackel’s career was covered in a Sept. 7, 2025 story in the Journal Times that included this information:
During his career, Jackel earned more than 70 writing awards and published an estimated 8,000 bylines.
The Racine native fell in love with sports as a kid. He was hired in August 1979 at the Journal Times as a part-timer, working 12 hours a week during his third year as an English major at UW-Parkside. In 1984, then-sports editor Gary D’Amato hired Jackel as a full-time reporter.
In 2021, Jackel was promoted to sports editor. Among the sports stars Jackel has interviewed are former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports commentator Tony Romo, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, former Major League Baseball pitching coach Ray Berres, former Wisconsin Badgers running back Brent Moss and others.
Jackel’s 46-year tenure at the Journal Times is likely the longest tenure of any reporter in the newspaper’s history. His writing awards included honors from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, and the Milwaukee Press Club.
