Officials and media members from the State of Michigan reacted to the retirement of longtime reporter Vicki Thomas who called it quits after a remarkable 30-year run at WWJ Newsradio 950 last week.
Thomas won several awards during her illustrious career and was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. She is also a longtime member of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Detroit chapter.
“After 30 years @WWJ950, I am retiring,” Thomas tweeted last week. “You will still be able to hear my #BlackBusinessMinute each week. It’s been an amazing ride working with the outstanding professionals at WWJ…the BEST news team around! I’ve truly been blessed!!”
Thomas graduated from Henry Ford High School in Detroit and eventually went to Michigan State University. Financial issues forced her from school briefly. She returned to school at Wayne State University where she won an essay writing contest hosted by Fox 2 in Detroit.
Thomas’ radio career began at WDET-FM. From there, she landed a job at WWJ and never left.
Thomas says she likes the visual anonymity of being on the radio. If she’s out during her off-work hours, it helps her move around without attracting attention — until she speaks.
“I was in a gas station and the person behind the counter recognized my voice. That was the first time it ever happened. I was really caught off guard,” Thomas said.
