Woodie Assaf Collection

Woodie Assaf was born in McComb, MS on March 15, 1917. He later graduated from McComb High School, and attended Southwest Junior College, Louisiana State University, and Columbia Radio College in Chicago. His career was interrupted when he entered the Army as a private in 1941, where he advanced to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, and served as a training officer during World War II. After discharge, Assaf returned to broadcasting and worked for radio station WQBC in Vicksburg, WJDX in Jackson, and WLBT-TV, also in Jackson, starting the day it went on the air, December 20, 1953. While he worked for both WJDX and WLBT, recording commercials, reporting news, sports and weather and selling advertising, he was best known as the Channel 3 Weatherman, a title he held longer than any other TV weatherman in the nation. Assaf never claimed to be a meteorologist or forecaster; He only "reported" the weather. His tag line was "The weatherman told me to tell you…"

An active member of his community and a charter member of Alta Woods United Methodist Church, Assaf received numerous achievements and volunteer awards, and hosted many events and telethons. Highlights of his accomplishments include bringing Danny Thomas to Jackson to raise money for St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis; a Hurricane Camille benefit that starred Bob Hope and raised more than $2.5 million dollars; and organizing and hosting a benefit show for the victims of the 1979 Easter flood. He emceed Jackson Day at the Neshoba County Fair every summer; was the voice of the Hinds Hi- Steppers; and emceed countless beauty pageants and special events. He was the inspiration for the popular jingle, "What's Woodie Say?" His most cherished honor was carrying the Olympic Torch on May 25, 1996, representing WLBT-TV. He died on Nov. 13, 2009, in Jackson, and was predeceased by his wife Ruby Nickey Assaf, and survived by two daughters and numerous grand-children and great-grandchildren.

Source: obituary, Clarion-Ledger