Tom Puckett has spent more than two decades in radio journalism. He began his career in 1995 as a senior at Gannon University anchoring Saturday news on WLKK in Erie (before it became Alternative Buffalo here). His job became full time in February 1996, and he stayed until the spring of 1997, when he joined the news team at WNED-AM. That fall, after applying for a sports reporter job, Tom was hired as overnight news anchor at WGR-AM, working under the mentoring of news director Ray Marks. There was an unscheduled break when the WBEN/WGR newsrooms merged in early 2000, and Tom took on the assignment editor post at Channel 4. Missing the on air rush, Tom returned to WBEN in April 2000. Since then, he’s filled in as morning show host on weekends, carried you through the stormiest of nights, and was with you when history was made on Election Night. For 11 years, Tom also hosted “Buffalo’s Evening News,” a one hour nightly news broadcast.
Off air, you’ll likely see Tom trying to improve his bowling average. He is the proud owner of the JA Golden Pin award for his victory in the Media Rolloff event in 2017. Tom has also co-hosted the JA Stock Market Challenge in November, where high school students compete in a Wall Street simulation. Since 2003, Tom has awakened early Thanksgiving morning to emcee the YMCA Turkey Trot, earning the title “The Voice of the Turkey Trot.” Tom also enjoys a good game of poker, fantasy sports (as long as he doesn’t have to pay), and collecting throwback sports jerseys.
Tom is a 1992 graduate of West Seneca East High School and 1995 graduate of Gannon University. Tom also loves to spend time with his little nieces, Arianna, Vivian and Quinn. He also spends a lot of time with his girlfriend Annie. They live in Amherst.
