After Nearly 50 Years of Anchoring Jacksonville’s News Landscape
Jacksonville, FL: After an illustrious career spanning nearly five decades on the First Coast, Tom Wills, the esteemed co-anchor of Jacksonville's highest-rated evening newscasts on Channel 4 WJXT, has announced his retirement.
"Tom Wills has been an integral part of the News4JAX family for nearly five decades, and his dedication to journalistic excellence has been unmatched. His passion for storytelling and commitment to serving our community have left an indelible mark on all of us. While we will miss his presence in the newsroom, we are incredibly grateful for his contributions over the years and wish him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement,” said Terri Cope Walton, Vice President and General Manager of WJXT and WCWJ.
Tom Wills, a household name in Jacksonville, began his journey with Channel 4 WJXT in 1975. Prior to gracing Jacksonville's screens, Wills made waves as a reporter at WTOP radio and WTOP-TV in Washington, where he covered pivotal events such as the Martin Luther King assassination riots, Bobby Kennedy's funeral and the Watergate scandal.
Throughout his tenure, Tom has been a stalwart in the field of journalism, capturing historical moments with his impeccable reporting. From the Supreme Court hearing on the Pentagon Papers to becoming the face of the story during the Lynyrd Skynyrd tragedy. Tom's dedication to delivering accurate and insightful news has left a mark on the industry.
Reflecting on his illustrious career, Tom shares, "After nearly fifty incredible years of reporting the news to the wonderful people of North Florida and South Georgia, it is with a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia that I bid farewell to this chapter of my life. Each day has been a new adventure, and I am humbled by the trust and support of our viewers over the years. While I may be stepping away from the anchor desk, the memories and connections forged will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, Jacksonville, for allowing me to be a part of your lives. Here's to the next chapter!" His passion and commitment have not gone unnoticed, earning him three Florida Emmys and two Columbia Dupont awards for documentary reporting.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Tom was honored with the Legacy Award by the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters in March 2018, further solidifying his legacy as a titan in journalism.
A native of Pittsburgh, Tom holds a journalism degree from American University. Beyond his professional achievements, Tom cherishes his role as a loving husband to Gina and a devoted father to three grown children. Now, as he embarks on this new chapter of retirement, Tom and Gina are delighted to embrace their roles as proud grandparents to Adele, Jack and Wesley.
Join us in celebrating Tom Wills' remarkable career with stories on News4JAX, News4JAX.com and News4JAX+, and wishing him all the best in his well-deserved retirement later this month.
About WJXT Channel 4
WJXT Channel 4 and News4JAX.com provides news, information and entertainment to the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia region. As the market leader, The Local Station is committed to bringing quality news and programming to the local community it serves. The station is owned by The Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and is one of seven Graham Media Group stations along with WCWJ Jacksonville, WKMG Orlando, WSLS Roanoke, KPRC Houston, KSAT San Antonio and WDIV Detroit.
About Graham Media Group
Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media powerhouses, plus Graham Digital, Omne and Social News Desk – all delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, streaming, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond traditional broadcast television. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve.
Headquartered in Detroit, GMG operates in four states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a top industry innovator. Omne is a leader in results-driven marketing solutions. Social News Desk provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms. Website: https://www.grahammedia.com/
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