GeneralLast Updated on 8 months by General
Tom Kenny has been a fixture at ABC 36 News since he joined the team in June 2001 as a General Assignment Reporter. Hailing from Peoria, Illinois, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Western Illinois University, graduating cum laude. Currently, he anchors ABC 36 News at 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm, showcasing his over three decades of experience in broadcast journalism.
Tom’s accomplishments in journalism are truly noteworthy. He is the only broadcast journalist in Lexington television history to be honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award. This recognition was bestowed upon him for his reporting on a story that provided a rare glimpse inside the secretive world of the Federal Witness Protection Program. He has also won an Emmy Award for anchoring and another for investigative reporting, where he exposed the deceit and potential danger of online diploma mills. Tom has garnered ten other Emmy nominations for his investigative and feature reporting. Furthermore, he has received Associated Press Awards for both reporting and anchoring and two Addy Awards for excellence in promotional writing.
Tom Kenny’s impact extends beyond his professional achievements. He was the first broadcast journalist in Lexington TV history to be awarded the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This prestigious accolade is granted to television professionals who have made distinguished contributions to the television industry for 25 years or more. He was honored not only for his longevity but also for his enduring contribution to the vitality of the television industry, his high standards of achievement, and his active role in mentoring, educating, and volunteering in the community.
Tom’s career includes network broadcast experience in radio and television, working as a sports reporter for notable entities such as ESPN, Sportschannel, NBC Sports, and the Breeders’ Cup. He served as the studio host and halftime producer for CBS Radio Sports’ College Football Game of the Week and covered the NFL for One-On-One Radio Sports. Prior to his time at WTVQ-TV, Tom Kenny was Vice-President of the Houston Astros Minor League baseball team in Lexington. His role played a significant part in bringing professional baseball back to the Bluegrass after a nearly 50-year absence.
For over three decades, Tom has been deeply involved with numerous charity and civic organizations, with a particular emphasis on supporting Veterans. He has resided in Lexington since 1984 and remains dedicated to the community.