R.I.P.: Tommy Woods, Iconic WARM NEPA Personality

Tommy Woods (1939-2025)

Tommy Woods, a beloved radio personality and member of WARM Radio’s “Sensational Seven” disc jockeys, passed away at the age of 86. 

Close friends reported that Woods died following recent health issues. His passing marks the end of an era for Northeast Pennsylvania’s radio history, where he left a lasting legacy as a pioneering DJ during WARM’s heyday in the 1960s and 1970s.

Woods joined WARM in 1961, becoming part of the second wave of the “Sensational Seven,” a group of DJs who transformed the station into a ratings powerhouse known as “The Mighty 590.” 

WARM dominated the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton market by playing Top 40 hits, with Woods’ charismatic voice and engaging style resonating with listeners. He was known for his clean-cut image and audience connection, often hosting record hops and appearing in local advertisements, including for The Hub.

After about seven years at WARM, Woods moved to Washington, DC, in 1969 to work as a congressional correspondent for WTOP News Radio during the Watergate era, later joining the Mutual Broadcasting System. He returned to Wilkes-Barre in the 1980s, working in WBRE-TV’s production department and serving as the station’s image voice.

Even in retirement, Woods remained a familiar voice, lending his iconic “big voice” to local TV commercials and documentaries. Notably, he participated in a sit-down interview with Rusty Fender about the Laurel Line rail service between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, filmed months before his death.

Media Appearances: Woods also hosted the Komotion Show on WNEP-TV (Channel 16) alongside fellow WARM DJ Bob Woody, further cementing his regional fame.

Woods was celebrated for his kindness and connection with listeners, as he expressed in a WVIA documentary, WARMland Remembered: “I would hope to be remembered by the way I treated my audience. I was always very nice to people, and therefore, in return, people were always very nice to me.”

His contributions to WARM’s dominance earned him and nine other early WARM personalities a collective induction into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2024 as “Legends of WARMland.”

Local outlets like WNEP, WBRE/WYOU, and WVIA reported his passing, emphasizing his role as a radio legend. WILK Newsradio honored Woods on May 20, 2025, with Sue Henry sharing archived clips of his work with Harry West on The Sue Henry Show.

The rating service, Hooper-Pulse, crowned WARM the highest rated radio station in the country at its peak. One reason would be Susquehanna Broadcasting's commitment to news and public service.

“The New WARM” was the first radio station in this region to develop a separate news department so the on-air personalities wouldn’t have to do re-writes from the papers or rip and read wire copy. “First news first” is where people found out what was happening in “WARMLAND.” “Operation Contact,” “Operation Snowflake,” “Flashback,” “P.S.B.B.,” “Look up to learning – soundoff, and viewpoint” were all part of the editorial voice of “WARMLAND” serving the community and fulfilling WARM’s civic duty.

WARM introduced outside weather service to the market with “Pinpoint Weather” in the late 1960’s to enhance the National Weather Service. In 1971 WARM became the charter radio outlet for the State College, private service they named “Accu Weather.” WARM, though, never copyrighted or trademarked “Accu Weather” and founder Joel Myers did so.

As a standalone news operation WARM proved its worth during the coverage given the 1972 hurricane Agnes flooding.

It is a tribute to WARM that personalities Ron Allen, Bobby Day, George Gilbert, Jerry Heller, Ray Magwyre, Terry McNulty, Joey Shaver, Harry West and Tommy Woods are remembered to this day because of their long tenure there.