Lelan Statom Biography
Lelan Statom is an American Emmy Award-winning Meteorologist and Television Host currently working as a Meteorologist and Talk of the Town co-host for WTFV NewsChannel 5. Lelan is a member of the National Weather Association & American Meteorological Society. He has the TV Seal of Approval from both organizations. He is a member of 100 Black Men of Middle TN and is the president of the Nashville Assoc. of Black Journalists. He also serves on several boards including Cornerstone Financial Credit Union, Northwest YMCA, Middle TN Boy Scouts, Laughter is the Best Medicine and the Board of Visitors for UTK College of Communication & Information.
Lelan Statom Age
Statom was born on April 16, 1964, in Chicago and raised in Dyersburg, Tennessee. Lelan says his interest in weather dates back to 7th grade. In fact, he had his own weather center in his backyard when he was in middle school. He is 55 years old as of 2019.
Lelan Statom Education
Lelan attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee- Knoxville where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications with an emphasis in news and public affairs. He also graduated from Mississippi State University with a certificate in Broadcast Meteorology.
Lelan Statom Wife
Statom is married to his wife Yolanda. With regards to his day job, NewsChannel 5 This Morning continues to be one of the highest rated local morning newscasts in the country while Talk of the Town continues to be among the country’s most successful local talk shows.
Lelan Statom Children
Statom and his wife Yolanda have two children daughter, Kayela and son Taylor. On days when he sees clear skies, Lelan takes to the parks for walking or bike riding.
Lelan Statom Career
Lelan TV news career started in Knoxville, first at WTVK-TV(It’s now WVLT), then at WATE. He worked as a weather anchor – and then some. In Knoxville, he did several jobs (producer, photojournalist, tape editor, and weekend assignment editor). Lelan also worked with Black Entertainment Television News during his time in Knoxville. In 1990, he moved to Bristol, VA, and WCYB to become a weekend weather anchor/reporter.
Readers of the Nashville Scene & The Tennessean have voted him favorite weather anchor in Reader’s Polls for each paper. Readers of The Tennessean and The Nashville News family of newspapers have voted him among the Best Dressed men in Nashville.
Lelan remains active in the community. He is a volunteer with TN & Davidson Co. 4-H. He also serves on several boards including Cornerstone Financial Credit Union, Northwest YMCA, Middle TN Boy Scouts, Laughter is the Best Medicine and the Board of Visitors for UTK College of Communication & Information. This is in addition to speaking to thousands of school students each year across Middle TN and Southern Kentucky.
In the past, he has served on boards for the TN 4-H Foundation, UT-Knoxville AG Institute, TSU Cooperative Extension, First Steps, and Youth Encouragement Services. Former Metro Nashville Mayor, Bill Purcell, & the Metro Council appointed him to serve two terms on the Davidson Co. Agricultural Extension Committee.
Lelan is a member of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society. He has the TV Seal of Approval from both organizations. He is a member of 100 Black Men of Middle TN and is the president of the Nashville Assoc. of Black Journalists.
Lelan Statom Awards
Lelan has received several awards and honors during his time in Nashville. In 2007, he (along with Ron Howes & Charlie Neese) received a Mid-South regional Emmy award for coverage of the tornadoes that hit the area in April 2006. He has received three other Emmy nominations for best weathercast. In 2006, he was awarded Best Weathercast in the state by the TN Associated Press.
He is a past Black Achiever with the YMCA and has been honored for his work on TV and in the community by the Gospel Music City Awards, TN Lay Organization of the A.M.E.Church and 4-H.
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