Bill OBoyle: Memories of Tommy Woods will always be WARM for all who knew him
Whenever you were around Tommy Woods, you got a very WARM feeling.
Thomas Robert Woods, 86, of Wilkes-Barre Township, passed away Monday, May 19, at his home.
When I heard the news, my reaction was like all others who ever had the pleasure of his friendship — overwhelming sadness.
Tommy always made you feel better — and he did it with such sincerity that you actually felt enriched by hearing it — believing that, perhaps, you were as special as Tommy made you feel.
In many ways, Tommy reminded me of my dad — guys like them defined what it means to be a gentleman.
Tommy's career in broadcast spanned over 65 years — he was a well-known radio and TV celebrity, a DJ and announcer, having worked locally at WARM Radio, WILK Radio, and as Director of Creative Services at WBRE TV.
Tommy was all about community, as his wife, Fran, would often talk about. And he was a man of faith.
His obituary said this:
"Tom led a life filled with purpose and passion, thriving in a career that brought him joy and fulfillment. His unwavering faith served as the foundation for his many contributions to the community, where he brought people together as an engaging emcee for concerts, shows and parades, and offered support to those battling addiction. A true friend to all, Tom cherished long-lasting relationships and had a remarkable ability to remember the unique stories and details of everyone he encountered. Most of all, he adored time with his family, especially his five grandchildren, with whom he shared many laughs and Grandpop jokes."
You could never fully recount all that Tommy Woods accomplished in his life — icons are icons. Tommy Woods was an icon in so many ways.
Last year, the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame inducted Tommy and the Legends of WARMland for all they did, not just for building an incredible audience for WARM, but for bringing so much joy to adults and teenagers alike.
David Yonki, author of the "590 Forever" blog, once told me that WARM Radio was a constant in a Baby Boomer's life.
"It got you through your first crush in grade school, entertained you in high school and as an adult was the first place you turned to for news, sports or weather," Yonki said. "WARM, the Mighty 590, was always there."
And Tommy Woods was right there through it all.
WARM at its peak had a share of over 50% of the audience. It brought Wilkes-Barre Scranton together as "WARMland" and everyone remembers that famous catchphrase — "It's only WARM for me."
Just about every radio owned by just about everybody under 25 back then was tuned to WARM.
I will never forget those sunny weekends when we would head out to Harveys Lake and Sandy Beach with our towels and transistor radios and everybody there was listening to WARM.
Yes, it was hot, but for kids, it really was only WARM for us.
To this day, we talk about the days when we first heard those songs of the 60s and we remembered how back in the day we enjoyed the Lake, the Shore, the music and the Mighty 590 AM playing hit after hit.
Yonki agrees that Tommy Woods had a remarkable life that was jam packed with a career that gave him access to celebrities, political figures, and regular folks.
"He was comfortable with all of them," Yonki said of Woods. "With Tom Woods, after you finished a conversation, your day just became better."
Tommy served on the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority since May 2014 and was a steadfast champion for the Mohegan Arena.
The authority said this about Tommy Woods:
"His passion for this venue and unwavering commitment to the growth of Wilkes-Barre Township and the greater NEPA region were evident in every meeting, decision, and conversation he was a part of. Beyond his professional contributions, Tom was a passionate, kind and thoughtful leader and friend whose presence will be greatly missed by all of us."
That really says it all about Tommy Woods.
For me, well, my memories of Tommy Woods will always be WARM.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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