Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in the Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
As a fixture on Toledo television for more than three decades, Jim Tichy combined a friendly demeanor with an infectious passion for local sports that endeared him to thousands of viewers.
A longtime sportscaster and sports director at Channel 24 (WDHO, later WNWO), Tichy joined the local TV sports scene fresh out of Bowling Green State University in 1972.
Tichy became the dean of local sportscasters before he retired in 2007 after 35 years at Channel 24.
Tichy was born in Cleveland in 1949 and raised in Parma, Ohio. He graduated from Parma Senior High School in 1967. An accomplished saxophonist and oboist, Tichy did not play sports in high school but had a passion for athletics and broadcasting from an early age.
He majored in radio, television, and film at BGSU and worked at the college's TV and radio stations. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1971 and earned his master's in communications in 1977.
Covering high school sports was one of Tichy's greatest passions. He also covered the Indianapolis 500, Kentucky Derby, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, World Series, Super Bowl XL, the Summer Olympics, and numerous college football bowl games.
He also enjoyed covering bowling and pro hockey in the city, including the Goaldiggers’ Turner Cup championship teams. He covered games at the Sports Arena, Ned Skeldon Stadium, and Fifth Third Field.
In the early years, Tichy served as a backup news anchor and meteorologist. In the spring of 1974, Tichy was named sports director and never left. He would open his broadcast with the familiar, “Hi, everybody!”
Tichy said he embraced his premature balding, and the TV station even had billboards that read “Toledo's Sports Dome” that ran alongside a picture of the balding Tichy.
He worked his entire career at Channel 24, located on South Byrne Road. He has been inducted into the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Tichy and his wife Peg live in Monclova. They have a daughter, Kelly White, and grandchildren Zach (16) and Allie (10).
The Blade: Who are some of your favorite coaches that you have worked with?
Tichy: Goaldiggers coach Ted Garvin was as unique as they come. He was the P.T. Barnum of coaching — a man able to get the most out of his talent while selling the product with wild antics, amazing one-liners, and championship teams. Bowling Green hockey coach Jerry York was about as accommodating as they come. He's also the only coach who offered to help me carry my equipment (which was quite heavy back then). He is a gentleman ... and a gentle man. Bowling Green men's basketball coach John Weinert and I became close friends. Who doesn't remember those gaudy sport coats that he would put on once the Falcons had sealed a win?
The Blade: Who are some of your favorite athletes that you have covered?
Tichy: Certainly Jimmy Jackson, along with Kelly Savage, Stan Joplin, Dave Wottle, Mike Aulby, and a batch of hockey players including Paul Tantardini, Jim McCabe, and Nick Vitucci.
The Blade: What do you remember most about your early days at Channel 24?
Tichy: The original news department in 1972 consisted of three people: Brian Kahle (news director/anchor), Pete Van Wieren (sports/weather), and me (reporter/cameraman). For several months we worked out of a newsroom that was smaller than a walk-in closet. Then we upgraded to a two-car garage before eventually moving into a 'palatial' double-wide trailer in the station parking lot.
The Blade: What makes Toledo such a great sports market?
Tichy: It's a great market for sports. Two universities just miles apart with a terrific rivalry, a storied baseball franchise, and a hockey team with a fanatical fan base. I love local hockey fans — they are passionate and always appreciative of the coverage. And then the frosting on the cake is the proximity to major league teams in Cleveland and Detroit. Could you be in a better location?
The Blade: What are your most vivid memories of the old Sports Arena?
Tichy: God, I loved that barn. Great sight lines, a camera perch right among the fans, a jam-packed and smoky concourse, seats practically on the players' bench, an organ player, unbelievably small locker rooms, a scary catwalk, and the best fans in hockey. It ripped my heart out when they tore it down.
The Blade: What do you recall the most about those Goaldigger teams?
Tichy : Chairs being thrown onto the ice, playoff games being interrupted by fog, and all-out brawls before they even dropped the puck — like in a scene out of Slap Shot . The 1974-75 team is etched into my memory. And it's not just because of what they accomplished but because of the characters with character on that team. Steady guys like Jim McCabe and Ted Tucker, veterans like Donny Westbrooke and Kent Douglas, a relentless Ian MacPhee, and, of course, 'Murder, Inc.' It was as if all the stars lined up for one incredible season.
The Blade: What do you think of the change to downtown with the additions of Fifth Third Field and then the Huntington Center?
Tichy: The facilities are tremendous. However, without top-notch management, the Hens and the Walleye would just be two more run-of-the-mill minor-league franchises. Attending an event at either venue isn't just 'going to a game.' It's an experience and a social gathering.
The Blade: Why did you decide to get into TV broadcasting?
Tichy: I had a choice between music and broadcasting. I was pretty good at saxophone and even better playing the oboe (two-time first chair all-state). I was offered a music scholarship at Bowling Green. However, during my senior year of high school, I won first place in the state high school broadcasting contest in Columbus and decided to follow that path. I was always interested in sports, and my broadcasting career headed in that direction.
The Blade: How much has local TV news changed since you retired?
Tichy: One winter my wife and I were vacationing in Florida, and I noticed that several of the stations in Fort Myers no longer had sports. 'Boy, that's odd,' I said. Little did I know that it was a trend that would eventually lead to the doorstep of Channel 24. Other stations in the Toledo market have at one time or another de-emphasized sports. It's a shame because covering high school sports was the most important thing I did. The kids deserve the attention and the fans appreciate the coverage. My final years at 24 were spent working with Eric Haubert — the best colleague I ever had. We had a blast producing the ‘Friday Night Frenzy.’
The Blade: Who were your inspirations?
Tichy: Frank Gilhooley and Orris Tabner — two of the finest men I've ever met. I was so blessed to arrive in Toledo during their heyday. Those guys treated me with respect and helped a young kid fresh out of college whenever they could.
The Blade: How much credit do you give to your family for their support?
Tichy: My wife taught for 35 years and I was at Channel 24 for 35 years. We retired on the same day. She worked from 8 to 4, and I worked from about 2 until midnight. So Monday through Friday, we didn't see much of each other. Her support was not killing me on weekends when we finally saw each other.
The Blade: What is something nobody knows about you?
Tichy : I have been a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts for 40 years. During that time if Peg and I went on vacation, I made damn sure to hit every amusement park in the vicinity. Currently, my coaster count stands at 278.
Despite 35 years in broadcasting, my most rewarding experience came after retirement with Honor Flight Northwest Ohio. Serving on the board and escorting over 2,000 World War II, Korea, and Vietnam vets on 32 flights over seven years to Washington, D.C. was truly an honor that I will never forget. Thanks to all our generous supporters who made those trips possible.
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