December 9, 1977

“Forced Retirement” marks the first appearance of Jimmy Joe Meeker, the Oklahoma oilman who’s “smoother than oil on a blister.” Rockford adopts this alter-ego on three other occasions throughout the remainder of the series. As Gigi Garner notes her in her Foreword to 45 Years of The Rockford Files, much of her father’s innate wit “bled through in some of his Rockford funny bits where he played Jimmy Joe Meeker.”

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details