Background
Doug Weathers was born in Marianna, Florida.
Doug Weathers was born in Marianna, Florida.
He anchored his last broadcast on May 23, 2001. According to a bio provided by WTOC.com, Weathers served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After of Korea, he re-enlisted and was ordered to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah in 1954.
He began working for WTOC-television in the station"s launch in 1954 as a film editors
He worked his way up to running the projector, operating the studio cameras and helping with the production of the news broadcast. In 1962, he was promoted to news director and anchorman.
He left WTOC-television to anchor the news at WJCL-television in 1973 when WJCL-television gained the ability to broadcast in color. WJCL was, at the time, last in the 6 o"clock news ratings.
With Weathers on the news desk they leapt to number 1 and stayed at, or near, the top until WTOC hired Weathers back in 1979.
He served as Head of News and Public Affairs and Anchor of WTOC The News at Six until his retirement in 2001. Weathers style changed little over the years. He never abandoned his down-home approach to the news often featuring "hokey" stories about farmers and their giant vegetables or anglers with really big fish.
Viewers claimed it was part of his appeal.
His popularity never flagged and WTOC"s newscasts remained firmly atop the local ratings.