WGN-TV going all out to celebrate and honor Tom Skilling

Iconic meteorologist retires February 28; announces Demetrius Ivory as his successor and renames WGN Weather Center after him

Nexstar’s WGN-TV announced Thursday it is going all out to celebrate Tom Skilling and his work at the station spanning 45 years.

The celebration of course, coincides with February being a sweeps month – well, at least there’s still such a thing in the world of local television as the major broadcast networks moved on from the concept a long time ago. But it makes sense given Skilling has helped the WGN become a top draw for decades, dominating the 9 p.m. news race for years and being competitive with ABC 7 and NBC 5 at 10.

Last October, Skilling announced he was retiring from WGN after 45 years, as he joined the station in 1978 – months before the station was uplinked via satellite and became a superstation, which enabled viewers across America to see him in action.

“There’s no formula for this. I am going to retire at the end of February after a marvelous 45 years at this incredible television station,” Skilling said when making the announcement October 12. “We all get to a point where we have to make a decision. ‘Is it time to retire. It’s the toughest decision.”

The celebration starts Friday in northwest suburban Woodstock, with Skilling making a rare appearance on Chicago’s top-rated morning news show (outside of torturing Pat Tomasulo) with Marcus LeShock in the town’s annual Groundhog Day event (the movie of the same name was filmed in the town 31 years ago with Bill Murray.)

On February 20, Skilling celebrates his 72nd birthday as WGN plans to honor him and have special guests.

Two days later on the 22nd, Skilling makes another rare morning show appearance with a live celebration on WGN’s morning newscast from The Music Box Theater in front of a live audience (maybe he’ll chase Tomasulo one more time and show him who’s the boss.)

And the big day comes on February 28 as WGN – and Chicago says goodbye to Skilling as he makes his final appearance and gives his final weather forecast (hopefully, there’s no blizzard, but that would certainly be in his element.)

On Thursday, WGN announced on its 5 p.m. newscast that Demetrius Ivory is becoming the station’s new lead meteorologist and announced the WGN Weather Center was being renamed the Tom Skilling Weather Center in his honor.