Tom Wills Biography
Tom Wills is an American journalist working for News4JAX as an evening co-anchor in Jacksonville for more than 4 decades. He joined the station in 1975 and has served the station for more than 45 years. Previously, he worked in Washington at WTOP radio and WTOP-TV as a reporter.
Tom Wills Education
Wills joined American University when he finished his high school education. He later graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.
Tom Wills Career
Wills has worked for News4JAX as an evening co-anchor in Jacksonville for more than 4 decades and has served the station for more than 45 years. Since joining the station, he has interviewed and met each president since Jimmy Carter. He says his favorite part of the profession is getting the chance to experience something new daily. For his work, he has received two Florida Emmys and shares two Columbia Dupont documentary reporting awards.
When News4JAX was commemorating Wills’ 40th anniversary on May 12, 2015, Mayor Alvin Brown came to the station and named the day Tom Wills Day in Jacksonville. In March 2018, he won the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters’ Legacy Award.
Previously, he worked in Washington at WTOP radio and WTOP-TV as a reporter. While in Washington, he broadcasted occasions like Bobby Kennedy’s burial, the Martin Luther King assassination riots, the Watergate break-in, President Richard Nixon’s exit from office, and the Supreme Court hearing on the Pentagon Papers. In addition, he worked as a part-time instructor at American University, where he taught news reporting.
While working in the nation’s capital, he got the assignment to stake out the White House theater during the Six-Day War in 1967. At the time, he was waiting for LBJ’s arrival so that he could get his statement. However, he didn’t come. This is the closest he has ever gotten to a president. His not-so-fond moment on TV is when he anchored a weekend newscast while dressed head to toe in bright yellow. He said that he didn’t find it embarrassing at that time but he is embarrassed when looking back at the moment.
Tom Wills Age
Wills has not yet disclosed the year he was born. However, he might be in his 70s. Wills celebrates his birthday every July 4th as evidenced by News4JAX’s birthday shoutout on July 4, 2020, on their Facebook page captioned “HAPPY BIRTHDAY,…Tom has been with Channel 4 for more than 45 years. Join us in wishing WJXT4 Tom Wills a Happy Birthday!”
Tom Wills Height
Wills stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
Tom Wills Family
Wills grew up in Pittsburgh but has managed to keep his personal life away from the limelight hence he has not disclosed any information about his parents. He has a brother named Bob. On May 11, 2014, he posted a picture of them and captioned “Taking in a Pirates game with my brother, Bob, and 13 other clients…”
Tom Wills Wife
Wills married Gina in September 1974. On September 24, 2019, he posted a picture of them on his Facebook account and captioned “I want to shout it from the rooftop…Gina and I just celebrated 45 years married, and we are just getting started!…” The couple has three adult children, Mike, Josh, and Kate.
Kate is married to J.D. and they have two children, Adele and Jack. Josh is married to Lisa and they have a son named Wesley. On November 24, 2018, Wills posted them on his Facebook account. That same day he posted Kate, her husband, and Wesley as well as Mike on his Facebook account.
Adele was born on May 27, 2011, and is 12 years old as of 2023. On May 27, 2018, he posted Adele on his Facebook account and wished her a happy 7th birthday. Jack was born on June 6, 2013, and is 10 years old as of 2023, as evidenced by his welcoming Jack into the world on June 7, 2013, via a Facebook post captioned “Welcome to grandson Jack, Adele’s brother. Born on the anniversary of D-Day.” Wesley was born on September 5, 2015, and is 8 years old as of 2023. On September 5, 2018, he wished Wesley a happy 3rd birthday via his Facebook account.
Wills referred to his grandchildren as “the dessert of life!” He sums up his life as “Family, faith, and 4.” An avid sports fan, he loves to watch the Florida Gators football, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers, and all college basketball. Moreover, his favorite book is Emmett Fox’s “Sermon on the Mount” and enjoys the Oscar-awarded film, “Dances With Wolves.”
Tom Wills Net Worth
Wills has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through being a journalist.
Tom Wills Salary
Wills earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Tom Wills News4JAX
Wills is working at News4JAX where he works alongside other famous anchors and reporters including;
- Erik Avanier
- Aaron Farrar
- Ashley Harding
- Anne Maxwell
- Tiffany Salameh
- Ariel Schiller
- Mark Collins
- Katie Garner
- Michelle McCormick
- Jamal St. Cyr
- Alessandra Pontbriand