Taft spent one year at Georgia Tech, before working as radar technician for the United States Air Force in Iowa.
After studying at Wartburg College for one year, he got accepted into the Airman Education and Commissioning Program, which sent him to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
His interest in the area was piqued during his time as a military pilot, when he was involved in a TV feature, flying with San Antonio weatherman Maclovio Perez of NBC affiliate KMOL-TV.
[2][6] He worked for 7 years at WMAQ-TV, Chicago's NBC affiliate then joined WLS-TV (ABC 7) in August 1984.
Taft's last day on air, after forecasting weather on Chicago television for 42 years, was Friday, January 19, 2018.