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Tom Skilling, a beloved meteorologist in the Chicago area who’s been on the air for more than four decades, has announced his retirement.
The 71-year-old weathermanrevealed the newsof his retirement on Thursday’s broadcast of WGN Evening News. His last day on the air will be Feb. 28, 2024.
Skilling, who will also turn 72 in February, said the last 45 years on the air have been “marvelous.” The decision to retire was a difficult one, he added.
“It was tough,” the chief meteorologist said, “but it was reached and it just feels right.”
In addition to his numerous Emmys from the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Skilling received the Illinois Broadcasters Association “Broadcast Pioneer” award in 2018.
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During his on-air announcement, Skilling looked back on some of his favorite moments with the station, including chasing tornadoes, dogsledding in Alaska, participating in Chicago Weather Day at Guaranteed Rate Field and much more.
Skilling is explaining his decision to retire from his lengthy and illustrious career. “We all get to the point where you have to make a decision. Is it time to retire? And it’s the toughest decision I can tell you about,” he said Thursday.
Skilling still plans to stay in Chicago after his retirement but hopes to do some traveling as well. Still, he doesn’t plan to go away entirely.
“I don’t know what I’m going to be doing when I get done with this, except [I won’t] have deadlines!” he exclaimed.
source: people.com
