Tom’s family moved from Wichita, KS to Edmond, OK in the fall of 2002. In May 2003, they huddled in the pantry with a mattress over their heads as they took shelter from a nearby tornado.
“We were fortunate that we had debris in our yard, but no damage to our new home. That event has stuck with me and sparked my interest in the weather,” Tom said.
Growing up in Oklahoma, extreme weather was familiar and at times the top entertainment. Whether a tornado was bearing down on the Oklahoma City metro or out on the fringes of the state, people would tune in to the storm coverage from all around.
Tom decided to attend the University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Systems with minors in Meteorology and Broadcast. Tom comes to Springfield after 2 years in Topeka, KS where he covered anything from snow and ice to damaging wind storms and tornadoes.
“I have many fond memories of family vacations in Branson and look forward to further exploring the area,” Tom said.
Tom enjoys hiking, fishing, playing piano and will rarely turn down an evening around the fire! He also likes classic cars and is excited to be back near Route 66.
