For Hub City Times

MADISON – A former Marshfield newsman is among four being inducted into Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Hall of Fame.

Thom Gerretsen touched many lives during his long career covering news and sports in Wisconsin. His writing and his voice were on the air in nearly every market across the state.

Gerretsen

Thom started his career in 1974 at WCLO-AM and WJVL-FM in Janesville. In 1975 he was named news director at WPDR-AM and WDDC-FM in Portage. He joined WDLB-AM 1450 in Marshfield in 1978, then owned by Goetz Broadcasting, where he served as assistant news director before being named news director in 1986. He contributed to networks that delivered news and sports content to many of the top radio stations in Wisconsin. He interviewed presidents and sports legends and covered many Wisconsin sports teams, including the Green Bay Packers.

Gerretsen’s philosophy was to “provide more local news to the community than any other station in the surrounding markets.” His stations were known for having the story first. News directors from around the state called Thom “the best in the business.”

He then worked for the Marshfield News Herald before joining Wheeler News Service in 2002 as chief editor where he wrote dozens of news stories each day that were distributed statewide.

Thom remains a regular contributor to the Hub City Times, providing his perspective on Marshfield history during his decades of news coverage.

Gerretsen is being inducted with Wayne Larrivee, who completed more than 20 seasons calling play-by-play for the Packers as part of his more than 40-year career as a broadcaster in the NFL; Jack Mitchell, and Nancy Zieman.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor broadcasters that have devoted a minimum of 15 years to the broadcasting industry including a minimum of 10 years as a Wisconsin broadcaster. The award recognizes an individual’s history of exemplary leadership in community and statewide service as a broadcast professional.

The Hall of Fame display resides at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame also has a permanent, virtual display at the online Wisconsin Museum of Broadcasting at www.wisconsinbroadcastingmuseum.org.