Longtime Little Rock TV meteorologist says farewell; colleagues, competitors share well wishes

Tom Brannon
Tom Brannon

A mainstay at Little Rock’s CBS affiliate for more than two decades said farewell to viewers Friday morning.

“Tom Brannon has been with us for 22 years and we don't know what we'll do without his smiling face in the morning. We will miss you,” KTHV-TV wrote of its departing longtime meteorologist in a six-minute video posted to social media.

The video provided a retrospective of some of Brannon’s tenure — from comedic moments on set and at various locations in central Arkansas to on-air flubs.

Brannon will soon start a new job as operations director at Little Rock advertising agency Ron Sherman Productions, working alongside another former forecaster.

Brannon joined THV11 in April 1996. He started out as a weekend meteorologist and weekday feature reporter. Within two years, he became part of the station’s morning broadcast, and remained there until his departure.

THV11 This Morning co-anchor Laura Monteverdi, one of Brannon’s colleagues, posted photos of the meteorologist appearing in a casual state as he readied himself for goodbyes.

“Earlier this week he did the weather at the green screen in a chair. This morning he is wearing pajamas,” Monteverdi wrote of Brannon in a tweet posted Thursday.

Two of Brannon’s former colleagues, B.J. Sams and Robyn Richardson, joined him on air two weeks ago — a reunion that was planned in advance to accommodate potential scheduling conflicts. Sams and Richardson departed THV11 in 2009 and 2007, respectively.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Richardson told Brannon on the broadcast, joking that the show was "sponsored by Kleenex."

"There are different seasons in life and you're ready to move on to that next season, and we get it," she added.

Melinda Mayo, a morning meteorologist at Little Rock’s ABC affiliate KATV-TV, gave well-wishes to Brannon on Twitter, congratulating her friend and competitor on his new adventure.

Mayo said that while she and Brannon never worked together in television, they were “weather classmates” at the National Weather Service in North Little Rock.

“Thanks for keeping me on my toes,” she wrote.

Another meteorologist at the ABC station, Todd Yakoubian, echoed that sentiment.

“Congrats on your long and extremely successful career in broadcast meteorology," Yakoubian said. "You will be missed, but never forgotten.”

2017 job shifts at Arkansas TV stations

Click here for larger versions

Upcoming Events