Woodrow “Woodie” Assaf Papers

Woodrow “Woodie” Assaf was born in McComb, Mississippi, on March 15, 1917. He attended Louisiana State University, and began his career at WSKB in McComb in 1937. Assaf then elected to leave WSKB and attend Columbia Radio College in Chicago. Assaf served in the United States Army during World War II, and reached the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After discharge, Assaf worked in broadcasting at WQBC in Vicksburg, then WJDX in Jackson. On December 20, 1953, WLBT-TV went on the air, with Assaf as the weathercaster. He delivered the weather for 56 years with WLBT-TV, retiring as the longest-running weathercaster in the United States.

Assaf was active within the community. He organized telethons and benefits, including bringing Danny Thomas to Jackson to raise money to build St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, and Bob Hope to a fundraiser that raised more than $2.5 million in the wake of Hurricane Camille. Assaf was given the honor of carrying the Olympic torch in 1996, representing WLBT-TV.