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'Commander' Tom Jolls inducted into New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Posted at 1:52 PM, Oct 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-17 18:36:27-04

NEW YORK, N.Y. (WKBW) — 7 Eyewitness News' legendary "Commander Tom" Tom Jolls was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame Thursday in New York City.

Jolls is best known for his time at WKBW, which began in 1965. He was a part of the dynamic trio known as "Irv, Rick and Tom" with Irv Weinstein and Rick Azar.

He was often referred to as "Western New York's favorite weatherman," with his unique fashion, "Weather Outside" during all four seasons and incorporation of his famous "weather stick" and weather words.

Beautiful weather days became known as "salubrious" in Western New York because of Jolls.

Jolls also had a big hand in children's television here in Buffalo, he created Captain Tom on "The Superman Show." The show later became the "Commander Tom Show," which is where The Commander was born.

His career began in 1951 at WUSJ in Lockport, he also spent time at WBEN.

The other inductees are Boomer Esiason, Diana Williams, Ted Long and Amy Robbins.