I grew up in the Midwest, with dreams of becoming an engineer and pilot. But, I got my first taste of broadcasting in high school at our ten watt radio station and from then on I was hooked. In college I worked at two different radio stations doing everything from turning on the transmitter Sunday mornings, to spinning records, writing news and even reading the obituaries on air. That latter job may sound macabre, but the switchboard would light up if we didn't do them, or if we mispronounced a name. After college, I got a job writing radio news at the princely sum of $4.50 per hour. It was a great experience. I learned how to write breaking news and long form stories that looked into the deeper issues of crime and poverty, and sports versus education. I worked with some of the best broadcasters in the business and picked their brains for every bit of information about our industry. Fortunately, they were more than willing to help and I can't thank them enough.
In 1989 I took my first TV job in St. Louis working midnight to 6 a.m., doing 30 second live news cut-ins at the top of every hour. It wasn't glamorous, but it got my foot in the door. After six months of volunteering to go out on every story, and do every interview, and generally making a pest of myself, I was hired full-time; undoubtedly just to shut me up.
In 1994, I joined ABC7, and it has been a dream come true. My family simply loves the Bay Area and I love working with the professionals that make ABC7, one of America's best sources of news and information; and believe me only professionals should see each other without makeup at 3:30 in the morning. That's when we'd arrive to prepare for the ABC7 Morning News. The newscast is as fresh and fun now as it was when I joined the program in 1996.
BTW, when I'm not on the air I'm probably buried in some history book or out throwing a football around with my kids.
I enjoy reading your comments, almost as much as I enjoy a good book. Find me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter.
Eric Thomas is a reporter and weekend anchor for ABC7 News. He also reports on aviation and the military.
Eric's Stories
BART riders in South Hayward feeling unnerved after fatal stabbing
"I want to know what BART is doing because I had no idea that someone was killed on the same train I decided to be on today." Passengers are feeling nervous after a fatal stabbing on a train in South Hayward.
Berkeley Half Marathon back 1 year after cancellation
The number of runners signed-up almost doubled this year. The Berkeley Half Marathon is back a year after the smoke of the Northern California wildfires forced its cancellation.
Santa Rosa residents team up to help victims of the Kincade Fire, PG&E power shutoff
"We were just getting a lot of individuals wondering how they were going to replace the food in their refrigerators and for people who lost wages for the time power was out." Santa Rosa teams up to help victims of the Kincade Fire and PG&E power shutoff.
Warriors fans upset about Stephen Curry's hand injury, trying to stay positive
Warriors fans were shocked Thursday morning to hear about Stephen Curry's injury and worried about what this means for the season.
Kincade Fire: Sonoma County grows to 23,700 acres, 5% containment
KINCADE FIRE: Crews are battling a wildfire burning out-of-control near Geyserville in Sonoma County. Evacuations have been ordered and it is 5 percent contained.
North Bay vineyard works to protect crop from Kincade Fire
At the Robert Young Vineyards along Red Winery Road, co-owner Fred Young and son Robert have been up for more than 24 hours trying to keep flames away from their precious vines.
PG&E replaces power pole that Rossmoor residents blame for fires
ABC7 is committed to building a Better Area and for residents of the Rossmoor Senior Development near Walnut Creek, things got better when PG&E finally replaced an old power pole that residents blame for five grass fires over the past dozen years.
Qantas plane lands in Australia after world's longest commercial flight
HISTORIC LANDING: After 19 hours and 16 minutes in the air, the world's longest commercial flight is now on the ground in Australia.
Rossmoor community wants dangerous PG&E power pole replaced
"They are getting electrocuted, hitting the ground, and causing these massive fires." A senior community in Walnut Creek says an old power pole near their development has been the source of repeated grass fires and they want it replaced.
West Oakland residents remembers collapse of Cypress Freeway 30 years ago
One of the most memorable sights after the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake was the damage done to both the Bay Bridge and the Cypress Freeway. Now, 30 years later, many in Oakland are remembering the collapse of the freeway that killed 42 people.
