12 Facts About Tom Jolls

Tom Jolls was an American television personality best known for his 34-year tenure at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York.

Tom Jolls was born in Newfane, New York, and grew up in Lockport, New York, where he worked at WUSJ from 1951 to 1962.

The program evolved into The Commander Tom Jolls Show and would be on the air in various formats for 26 years.

Tom Jolls, along with news anchor Irv Weinstein and sports anchor Rick Azar, was a nighttime fixture on WKBW.

Tom Jolls had a more laid-back, conversational style to his forecast presentation, contrasted to the hipper, younger approach taken by channel 4's Kevin O'Connell and the manic comedy of channel 2's Barry Lillis.

Tom Jolls never earned any certification in meteorology; he believed that the art of weather forecasting was simple enough that it did not require advanced meteorological training.

Tom Jolls had largely avoided the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 since he went home before the worst of the blizzard hit.

Tom Jolls noted that the blizzard marked a turning point in weather forecasting on television, as he had been given a much larger, earlier spot in the newscasts after the event since weather had become a much greater priority.

Weinstein retired in 1998, and Tom Jolls left the air six months later, retiring on June 30,1999.

Tom Jolls had spent his winters in Cape Coral, Florida, before deciding to remain in Western New York to be with his family, which included his wife Janice, six children, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Tom Jolls was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

Tom Jolls died at his New York home on June 7,2023, at the age of 89.