Latest news with #Tooten
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tim Tooten, veteran TV reporter and church minister, dies
Tim Tooten, a reporter recalled as the 'heart and soul' of the WBAL-TV newsroom who also led a nondenominational church, died Saturday at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He was 66 and lived in Rosedale. His wife, Charleen Dawson Tooten, said her husband died of 'medical complications.' Born in Live Oak, Florida, he was the son of James Tooten Sr., a World War II veteran and farmer and his wife, Doris McKiver, a community activist. He was a graduate of Suwannee High School, where he ran track, played basketball and was a disc jockey. After studying at Tallahassee Community College, he earned a communications degree from Florida State University. He had broadcast jobs at WDVM-TV in Washington and at WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia, before coming to Baltimore and WMAR-TV. In 1988 he became a WBAL-TV news reporter. 'Tim was the heart and soul of the newsroom,' said WBAL news director Tim Tunison. 'He was loud in the best way possible. He was a mentor to us all. He was larger than life and we referred to him as our newsroom pastor.' Mr. Tooten covered schools throughout Maryland and announced school closings during weather events. After he started wearing hats with school colors and insignias, principals began mailing him their institutions' caps. He put on many during morning newscasts. 'Kids from all over Baltimore would tune in and wait for their school to be called,' said Mr. Tunison. He also covered school-related events, such as the Cool Schools Plunge, a benefit for Special Olympics Maryland. In 2023, Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises spoke at Mr. Tooten's retirement celebration. He earned an Emmy Award for his documentary shot in Liberia, West Africa, called 'Africa's Maryland.' Mr. Tooten was later an affiliate faculty member and taught broadcast journalism at Loyola University Maryland. In 2006 he began an evangelistic ministry. He founded Harvest Christian Ministries, a nondenominational church in Perry Hall. Mr. Tooten was a Sunday afternoon patron at the Double T Diner in White Marsh, where he walked the dining room and greeted his many friends and congregants. He became a member of the Sharon Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn, where he was also ordained into the gospel ministry. He received a master's degree in theology from Saint Mary's Ecumenical Institute and a doctorate of divinity from Virginia University of Lynchburg. He wrote, 'Leading by Example: A Parental Guide to Teaching and Modeling Christian Faith at Home,' and a collection of daily devotionals, 'Seeds of Encouragement.' He was a board member of the Maryland Bible Society. A life celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Central Christian Assembly of God Church, 7411 Rossville Blvd. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Charleen Dawson Tooten; two daughters, Fallon Cuthrell, of Westfield, Indiana, and Taren Tooten, of Baltimore; a son, Timothy Tooten Jr., of Baltimore; a godson, Charles Cuthrell, of Baltimore; two sisters, Evelyn Williams, of Orlando, Florida, and Pauline Tooten, of Live Oak, Florida; a brother, James Tooten, of Live Oak; and four grandchildren. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at and 410-332-6570.
CBS News
10-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland leaders, community members mourn death of esteemed journalist Tim Tooten
BALTIMORE -- Maryland leaders and community members are mourning the death of esteemed journalist Rev. Dr. Tim Tooten Sr. Tooten, who was 66, was an anchor at WBAL-TV 11 for more than 35 years. WBAL made the announcement of his death Sunday evening. He was one of the longest-tenured and best-recognized education reporters in the region and retired from WBAL in 2023. He spent more than 40 years in journalism, the Baltimore Banner reported. According to an obituary by the Schimunek Funeral Home, Tooten began working as a journalist for WBAL-TV 11 in 1988 and held the title of Baltimore's only full-time education reporter for more than 30 years. In 2006, Tooten founded Harvest Christian Ministries, a non-denominational church in Baltimore County, according to the obituary. There, he served as a pastor. He later became a member of Sharon Baptist Church, where he was ordained into the gospel ministry. Tooten also served as an adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at Loyola University. Maryland leaders remember Tim Tooten After the news of Tooten's death, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott took to social media, telling a story about his first time being interviewed by Tooten. "If you grew up in Baltimore in the 90s, you know you weren't officially out of school on a snow day until Tim Tooten said so! The first time he interviewed me, I had goosebumps and said, "Sir, I've watched you my entire life." He said thank you, but don't make me feel old and carried out the interview with that grace and distinction that he displayed every day of his career," Scott recounted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mayor Brandon M. Scott (@mayorbmscott) Former Maryland governor Larry Hogan also paid his respects in a social media post. Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of WBAL's Tim Tooten. For more than 35 years, he was a trusted voice in Baltimore. He brought stories to life, and his impact went far beyond the newsroom. Tim was a man of deep faith, a dedicated journalist, and a mentor to so many. He… — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 10, 2025 "Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of WBAL's Tim Tooten. For more than 35 years, he was a trusted voice in Baltimore. He brought stories to life, and his impact went far beyond the newsroom. Tim was a man of deep faith, a dedicated journalist, and a mentor to so many. He was simply a wonderful person," Hogan said in part. Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP, also released a statement. "My prayers go out to his wife, three children and grandchildren. In 2024," we honored Dr. Tim Tooten with a Distinguished Education Award for all that he has meant to Baltimore and Education," Coleman said. "I grew up on Tim giving me the delays and closing of schools on snow days. He also gave us the good news and the challenges Maryland students faced. On a personal note he always told me to be careful around hot mics. Maryland will miss this champion and I am glad that I knew Dr. Tim Tooten." The AFRO Staff issued a statement, issue condolences to Tooten's family and friends.
