Tom McNamara

Home / Our People / Past Communicators / Tom McNamara

Be part of CBC historySubmit your Story View others' submissions.

Tom McNamara was one of the original co-hosts of PM Magazine on WRAL-TV.

Tom joined the station in July of 1980 and helped bring the new PM program format to life on Channel 5. Tom and co-host Susan Dahlin fronted the magazine show for more than four years and won legions of fans in the process. The partnership ended when Tom decided to move into the TV news business, and he left the station for an anchor position out of state.

Tom was born and raised in New York City. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism from Fordham University, then got his first television experience as a desk assistant at WCBS-TV in New York.

Tom next became an actor and voiceover artist for radio and television commercials. He even appeared in several daytime dramas in the late 1970s.

In 1979 Tom got his first fulltime station job hosting PM Magazine at WNEP-TV in Scranton, PA. A year later he moved to Raleigh to join the WRAL team.

After leaving Channel 5, Tom held on-air reporting and anchoring jobs in Oklahoma City and Phoenix before making his last move to Tucson in 1997. He was hired at KVOA-TV as that station’s 5, 6 and 10 pm anchor and that’s where he is to this day.

Tom and his wife—the former Susan McMullen—are now the happy parents of three beautiful girls.

Sort by:

Name

Highlights for Tom McNamara

Fun on PM Magazine BLOOPERS

Enjoy these outtakes from the popular evening program “PM Magazine” with hosts Tom McNamara and Susan Dahlin circa 1984. You’ll also see legendary WRAL news anchors Charlie Gaddy and Adele Arakawa, as well as chief meteorologist Greg Fishel in a few of the bloopers. Background music is “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon.
WRAL presents “Attack Of The Cardiac Pack” NCSU 1983 Champs

1983 “March Madness” resulted NC State winning the NCAA National Basketball Championship. The team was tagged with the nickname “Cardiac Pack” after winning games that ended in heart-stopping, buzzer beater baskets.

Watch this 30 minute program, complete with vintage commercials, that captures the excitement on campus and in the community. GO PACK!
Former PM Magazine host Tom McNamara sends Christmas greeting from AZ

Former PM Magazine host Tom McNamara became a news anchor at KTVK in Phoenix, Arizona in the late ’80s. But he always remembered his friends back at WRAL-TV and the viewers in Raleigh. Tom sent this Christmas greeting and an update on what was happening in life in Arizona.

Tom is now retired from working in television. His last position was with KVOA in Tucson, Arizona. He anchored the evening newscast for 18 years. Tom announced his retirement in December 2014.
Former WRAL PM Magazine host Tom McNamara shows Susan Dahlin around AZ

Tom McNamara and Susan Dahlin were co-hosts of the daily evening program, “PM MAGAZINE” on WRAL-TV during the early ’80s. Tom eventually left WRAL in 1984 in order to pursue a career in news in Phoenix, Arizona. He became a news anchor at channel 3, KTVK.

Susan visited Tom in Phoenix and received a quick tour of the gorgeous area. (circa 1985)
1986 PM Magazine Bloopers Show

PM Magazine hosts Susan Dahlin and Tom McNamara share some of their behind-the-scenes antics from 1986. You’ll enjoy these bloopers and out-takes!

1 2 3 Next »

Tom McNamara

Highlights for Tom McNamara

Fun on PM Magazine BLOOPERS

WRAL presents “Attack Of The Cardiac Pack” NCSU 1983 Champs

Former PM Magazine host Tom McNamara sends Christmas greeting from AZ

Former WRAL PM Magazine host Tom McNamara shows Susan Dahlin around AZ

1986 PM Magazine Bloopers Show