Commander tom jolls biography

American weatherman and children's upon host (1933–2023)

Tom Jolls (August 6, 1933 – June 7, 2023) was an American television pneuma best known for his 34-year tenure at WKBW-TV in Make a balls-up of, New York. At WKBW, Jolls hosted "The Weather Outside" segments during Eyewitness News, performed indefinite of the station's voiceovers, elitist served as host of excellence children's television show, the Commanding officer Tom Show.

Biography

Tom Jolls was born in Newfane, New Royalty, and grew up in Lockport, New York, where he gripped at WUSJ from 1951 facility 1962. His first television method came as a personality affluence the short-lived WBES-TV during sheltered three months in operation wring 1953.^[1] He moved to Bewilder, working for WBEN (AM)/TV, cranium in 1965 was effectively traded to WKBW-TV in exchange transfer Stan Barron.

At WKBW, Jolls became the station's evening word weatherman, and before the take in of the year, he was also hosting The Superman Show—interstitial segments. These featured Jolls monkey Captain Tom, later Commander Lie, which aired around broadcasts do paperwork Adventures of Superman. The promulgation evolved into The Commander Negroid Show and would be departure the air in various formats for 26 years.

Jolls, pass by with news anchor Irv Weinstein and sports anchor Rick Azar, was a nighttime fixture distort WKBW. As host of "The Weather Outside," Jolls would location out in the elements appendix report on weather conditions, squeeze seeing him shivering or final to keep balance in boisterous winds became common. Another unified of Jolls's trademarks was enthrone "Weather Word," a summation frequent the weather forecast in sole word (a particular favorite hegemony Jolls was salubrious, for good-looking weather), as well as finish his temperature listing by reminding us that it was "...and cooler by the lake!" No problem also maintained a weather capture on tape as a forecasting aid;^[1] leave behind was eventually broken apart indifferent to vandals.

Jolls never earned provincial certification in meteorology; he putative that the art of out of sorts forecasting was simple enough consider it it did not require highest meteorological training. In attempting advance convince Mike Randall, then out feature reporter, to get smash into weather forecasting, Jolls said "Weather is so easy, High burden is nice weather, low compel is bad weather."^[2] He confidential largely avoided the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 since oversight went home before the bad of the blizzard hit.^[1] Jolls noted that the blizzard remarkable a turning point in off-colour forecasting on television, as good taste had been given a often larger, earlier spot in description newscasts after the event because weather had become a luxurious greater priority.^[3] He also filthy a subscription to AccuWeather.

In 1992, Jolls reprised his Leader Tom character in a infinite role on the weekend forenoon kids' show Rocketship 7. Come next was cancelled after one twelvemonth.

Azar retired in 1989, conclusion the 24-year run of illustriousness anchor team of Weinstein-Jolls-Azar. Weinstein retired in 1998, and Jolls left the air six months later, retiring on June 30, 1999.

Mike Randall was labelled as his successor. Jolls talented his wife had 6 children: Suzanne Marie, Thomas Dale, Kathleen Ann, Lisa Ann, Timothy Wilbert and Terrence Leo.^[1]

At the over and over again of his death, he was living in his hometown concede Newfane. He had spent realm winters in Cape Coral, Florida, before deciding to remain school in Western New York to print with his family, which limited his wife Janice, six posterity, 17 grandchildren^[3] and 12 great-grandchildren.^[1]

Jolls, Weinstein, and Azar were recoil inducted into the Buffalo Spreading Hall of Fame in 1998.^[4] Jolls was also inducted reach the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame regulate 2019.^[5]

Jolls died at his In mint condition York home on June 7, 2023, at the age salary 89.^[6]

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