Tom Jolls

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Tom Jolls was a television weatherman at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, and star of the Commander Tom Show. A native of Western New York, Jolls became a full-time broadcaster in 1954. Lyle "Red" Koch approached him about becoming host of a children's program in 1965. Although his main job was as a weatherman, he would then second as "Commander Tom," host of the children's show "Rocketship 7". As the only local host of a kids' program for years, an entire generation grew up with Tom as their local hero. The Commander Tom Show would continue in various incarnations until 1993, when Jolls officially hung up his Commander Tom uniform.

Jolls, along with news anchor Irv Weinstein and sports anchor Rick Azar, were a nighttime fixture on WKBW for three decades. As host of "The Weather Outside," Jolls would stand out in the elements to report on weather conditions, and seeing him shivering or struggling to keep balance in gusty winds became common.

After 34 years on the air at WKBW-TV, Tom Jolls retired in 1999 from the job that made him one of the most familiar faces and voices Western New York.