JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – WJXT anchor Tom Wills is retiring Friday after 49 years with the station. During that illustrious career, Wills has covered quite a collection of sporting events, including Colt Fever in Jacksonville in 1979 to the birth of the Jaguars in 1993 and multiple Super Bowls. We reached out to some notable sports figures in Jacksonville and had them give Wills their best.
Recommended Videos
Peter Bragan Jr., Former Jacksonville Suns/Expos owner
“Well, well. Congratulations, Tom on your ‘early’ retirement. You have always been the consummate professional in a field full of phonys! I remember you getting a big kick out of it, when I Stumped Sam [Kouvaris]! The closest thing to a local version of Walter Cronkite I have ever seen!”
Tom Coughlin, former Jaguars head coach
“Congratulations on your retirement, Tom. You’ve been a steadfast presence in the Jacksonville community since I moved here in the mid ‘90s, and Channel 4 has been lucky to have you.”
Gene Frenette, Florida Times-Union sports columnist
“It’s quite an achievement to be a television presence as a news anchor at one station for 49 years. What made Tom special is he did it with a high level of professionalism and genuine humility. He cared foremost about serving the viewers first and not himself, which is what makes him a true legend. What a fabulous TV run.”
Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars
“I salute Tom Wills for 49 years of faithful service to WJXT and the Jacksonville community. Tom was already a local fixture well before the day in 1993 when he reported that Jacksonville had been awarded an NFL franchise, and I remember him being on duty when I arrived here in late 2011. After nearly five decades, Tom has more than earned a happy and healthy retirement. Congratulations, Tom!”
Sam Kouvaris, former Channel 4 sports director
“When I first came there in 1981, Tom, he set the standard, not only the standard for professionalism and how to be a journalist, but how to act with your fellow employees. In order for the newsroom to function at the effort and high level we did it at, you always got the feeling you were a part of a team. I always thought there was this leadership team and we all were of like minds that we were a team and we were all doing our jobs to make the whole product better. Tom set the standard for that. I was lucky he saw it the same way. [Former anchor] Deborah [Gianoulis] saw it the same way. [Former meteorologist] George [Winterling] saw it the same way. Later, Mary [Baer] saw it the same way. It was fun being there.”
Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, original owners of the Jaguars
“Tom Wills is a trusted newsman and a stand-up guy. Tom has been a witness to some of the Jaguars most exciting times including the day we were awarded the team. We’ve admired him for many years, and he leaves a lasting legacy on Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Congratulations on your retirement, Tom.”