Don Germaise
Don Germaise is a retired American television news reporter best known for his long career at WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida, where he became the station’s first reporter and its longest-tenured on-air journalist.Germaise joined WFTS shortly after it became an ABC affiliate in 1994, helping to establish the newsroom’s local presence and reputation for fast-paced, on-scene coverage.[1]. Over nearly two decades, he covered hurricanes, political stories, and breaking news events throughout the Tampa Bay region, earning recognition for his energetic style and signature use of the phrase “hunker down” during coverage of Hurricane Charley[2][3]. In 2012, WFTS announced his retirement effective May 25, 2012, marking the end of one of the longest continuous reporting careers in Tampa television news [4].
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Boston, Don Germaise relocated to Florida to attend the University of Florida, where he developed an interest in journalism and began his career in radio before moving into television. A long-time Florida resident, he has expressed a preference for the state’s warm climate and is known to enjoy traveling and following local sports, particularly the Tampa Bay Rays.In interviews, Germaise has cited his early newspaper delivery job in Massachusetts as his first introduction to journalism and credits his University of Florida housing director, Jack Worley, and first news director, Ron Comings, as mentors who shaped his professional outlook. Outside of broadcasting, he has expressed interests in baseball and film, naming “A Knight’s Tale” as his favorite movie and Jimmy Buffett’s “Floridays” as his favorite song.[5] Before joining WFTS-TV, Germaise worked at ABC affiliate stations in West Palm Beach and Fort Myers. Earlier in his career, he served as the official mascot “Sam the Olympic Eagle” at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, an experience he later described as one of his most unusual professional highlights.[6]
He is married to Jeanne Germaise, a Florida Atlantic University graduate who works in the engineering industry and participates in charitable initiatives supporting underprivileged children. Their daughter, Lexi Germaise, a University of South Florida graduate, is a Senior Graphic Designer for CRH and serves on the board of UpCharity Romania. Together, the family established the Germaise Family Foundation, a Florida-based philanthropic organization supporting community and humanitarian efforts.[7]
After leaving television, Germaise dedicated himself to volunteer work and humanitarian efforts both locally and internationally. He became an active volunteer with the following local organizations.[8]
- Metropolitan Ministries
- Ronald McDonald House
- Feeding Tampa Bay
- Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful
- Keep Pinellas Beautiful
- Our Daily Bread
- Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center
- Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay
- Hands Across the Bay
- Habitat for Humanity
- Quantum Leap Farm
- Ronald McDonald House
- Trinity Cafe
Don Germaise has participated in relief work in locations including Romania, Greece, Haiti, Guatemala and Peru with the following organizations.[9]
- GlobeAware
- Leadership Home Chiang Dao
- UpCharity Romania
- People for Haiti
In interviews, he has said that his post-broadcast life centers on service rather than retirement, describing his shift from journalism to full-time community engagement as “a new way to make a difference”[12].
Don Germaise has received numerous awards including:
- 2022 "Award of Excellence" by Ronald McDonald House Charities[13]
- 2019 "Community Hero" by Tampa Bay Lightning[14]
- 2018 "Volunteer of the Month" by Ronald McDonald House Charities[15]
- 2017 "Friends Award" by Ronald McDonald House Charities[16]
Germaise continues to be remembered in the Tampa Bay community for his pioneering work in broadcast journalism, his storm-coverage catchphrases, and his enduring commitment to public service [17]
References
This article "Don Germaise" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Don Germaise. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ Deggans. "Don Germaise, ABC Action News' longest-tenured reporter, to retire from the station May 25". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ Paluska, Michael. "Back into the Eye: 20 years after Hurricane Charley". Tampa Bay 28 ABC. Tampa Bay 28 ABC. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ Deggans. "Don Germaise, ABC Action News' longest-tenured reporter, to retire from the station May 25". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ Deggans. "Don Germaise, ABC Action News' longest-tenured reporter, to retire from the station May 25". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ https://www.tampabay28.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/getting-to-know-abc-action-news-reporter-don-germaise-with-this-week's-10-questions-for%3F. Tampa Bay 28 ABC. Missing or empty
|title=(help); External link in|website=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ Germaise, Don. "Don Germaise". Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Our Family". Germaise Family Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Our Family". Germaise Family Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Our Family". Germaise Family Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Learn how you can take action with full-time volunteer Don Germaise". Feeding Tampa Bay. Feeding Tampa Bay. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ Dylan, Corey. "Don Germaise: Some 'Incidences are Hard to Talk About'". Alive Tampa Bay. Alive Tampa Bay. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Learn how you can take action with full-time volunteer Don Germaise". Feeding Tampa Bay. Feeding Tampa Bay. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ [youtube.com/watch?v=Nkt3MmWsT3o&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fgermaisefamilyfoundation.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE "Award of Excellence 2022"] Check
|url=value (help). Ronald McDonald House Tampa Bay Youtube. Retrieved 5 November 2025. - ↑ Dailey, Sean (Dec 17, 2019). "Beloved ABC Action News alum Don Germaise honored by Tampa Bay Lightning as a 'Community Hero'". Tampa Bay 28. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Our Family". Germaise Family Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ "Our Family". Germaise Family Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ Deggans. "Don Germaise, ABC Action News' longest-tenured reporter, to retire from the station May 25". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
