Don Welch

Don is host and co-producer of "ThisNThat" a daily show airing at 12:30 pm with current topics, weather conditions and local events.

Don, born March 10 in Dayton, Tennessee. As host and producer, Don must stay on top of news and events, booking guests that will inform and entertain his morning audience.

WE LOVE TV

By Don Welch

I love TV because of about a zillion changes in the industry in the short time I've been a part of it. For instance, my first year was the last of local black and white television. Color TV for local news and programs had arrived. We had to learn how to light people and sets for color instead of black and white.

News film was color which meant photographers had to learn what a light meter was. In those days, from the time an event occured until film could be ready to go to air, an hour and a half to two hours had passed. Now, we can be on the air, at an occurrence, and go "live" almost instantly. WOW!

I started doing TV weather in the 70s. Boy, was that a hoot! I had two maps and had to draw fronts on them. Later, I thought I had reached "the big time" when I used a map with magnetic symbols, like raindrops, clouds, suns, etc. Now we have satellite cloud movement, instant radar showing storms, snow or rain, and the newest Doppler radar which can show rainfall amounts and severe winds as well as severe storms.

And do you remember when it was six to twelve hours or longer before you saw a major story from another country? Today, satellites take us to Moscow, Cuba, or China while events are occurring. I can't wait to see how our business changes in the next ten years. If it's half as exciting as the last ten, it will be an extravaganza!

In spite of numerous changes in our business, one thing remains constant. It's still about people! Who do you feel comfortable letting into your home to tell you the day's happenings? Whether drawing on a weather board in the 70s or hosting "ThisNThat," people I don't know invite me into their homes on a daily basis, and for that I am very grateful. Because without those viewers, I don't exist.

I was born and raised in our viewing area, and from my NewsChannel 9 window, I've witnessed all kinds of changes, some good -- some not so good. But watching people change, and people making changes, makes my job exciting and challenging. Do I love TV? Yeah!!!!!

Favorite Things: Meeting People

Pie: Lemon Icebox

Person: Willie Nelson

Collectible: Ball caps