PORT ST. LUCIE PEOPLE
time in radio and at the television station WTVX in Fort
Pierce. “Four days a week I was the floor director, master control
operator, cameraman, teleprompter, doing voice-overs.
Six days a week I was on the radio from six until midnight. I
didn’t get much sleep.”
In 2006, Waterman temporarily signed off to return to
Connecticut School of Broadcasting as an administrator.
Going to the Orlando location was “like coming full circle. I
went to school. I was successful in broadcasting. And then I
was back there.”
The school trained people to work behind the scenes and
on-air for radio and television. “Lucky for me, I’d done both,”
Waterman says.
He helped cultivate the curriculum, hired staff, recruited
students and was regional director for their Texas locations.
He helped several hundred students advance their broadcasting
careers. “I think that’s what I’m the most proud of.”
Currently, Waterman engineers a Sunday radio show in addition
to other responsibilities and programs for WPSL. “I’ve
got wonderful bosses, Carol and Greg Wyatt, one of the first
anchors on ESPN. They’ve been doing Christmas Kids Toys
Program every year for a long time. I love radio — it’s a great
opportunity to help.”
A great voice, however, isn’t essential. “I’m lucky enough
to have a good set of pipes but knowing how to use what
you’ve got is more important,” Waterman says. The biggest
challenge is multi-tasking. “You have to make decisions instantaneously
when the computer’s not working or there are
technical difficulties.”
Waterman has worked for stations in Stuart, Key West,
Orlando, Arkansas, West Palm and Vero Beach, adding retail
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Port St. Lucie Magazine 43
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THOMAS WATERMAN
Age: 61
Lives in: Port St. Lucie
Occupation: Radio broadcaster; DoorDash driver;
Legal Shield associate
Family: A brother and a sister
Education: Uniondale High School in New York; Indian
River then Community College; Connecticut School of
Broadcasting in North Palm Beach
Hobbies: “Not a whole lot. I used to work on cars a lot
and was sports-minded before some injuries.”
Who inspires me: “I always wanted to be a baseball
player like Tom Seaver of the Mets. When he passed
away, it broke my heart. I was pretty good, but you can’t
be good. You have to be great.”
Something most people don’t know about me: “I’m
into Golden Tee golf, which is one of the most popular
sports bar games.”
jobs and side gigs along the way. “I’ve worked two or three
jobs most of my life — liquor manager, auto parts, DJ.”
And today? The same. Although Waterman would love to
expand his radio or television presence, driving for DoorDash
Monday through Saturday is more lucrative, more flexible.
Who knows? The next delivery man to show up at your
door may have a voice exactly like that of WPSL’s Ray
Thomas. E
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