Former Governor Will Head UW-System

Tommy Thompson (Photo from: WEDC/YouTube).
Tommy Thompson (Photo from: WEDC/YouTube).

MADISON, WI (WSAU-WAOW) -- The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents announced today that former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson will serve as UW System Interim President effective July 1st.

A press release calls Thompson a "well known champion of Wisconsin's public universities."

Board of Regents president Andrew Petersen asked Thompson to serve "because of his legacy of bringing people together and finding common ground."

The Board is continuing a search for a new person to replace Ray Cross after the sole finalist for the position, Jim Johnsen, withdrew his name from consideration earlier this month. There had been mounting criticism of the search criteria and Johnsen's qualifications.

Tom King

Tom grew up in Wausau listening to sports on WSAU and music on our sister stations WRIG and WIFC and decided early on that that was where he wanted to be. After graduating from Wausau East in the mid 70's Tom headed to UWSP. He worked at the college radio station WWSP and weekends on WIFC while earning a degree in Communication.

After college he worked a year at WKAU radio in the Fox Valley before returning to Wausau and moving into radio sales. He missed the on-air work and returned to the air when WOFM went on the air and when it was purchased by Midwest Communications was asked to take on the sports position on WSAU. He has spent the last 13 years as part of the WSAU morning team while also broadcasting Wausau East sports and contributing to the morning show on WIFC.

If you listen to the show you know that Tom is the coach of the Wausau American Legion Baseball team. He's married (Sandy) with two sons (Wade & Cory) and spends his spare time reading, listening to music, watching movies and tv shows and following most of the major sports.