Pioneer and WTTG-TV Founder Dies

Courtesy:PBRTV
Thomas Toliver Goldsmith, Jr. passed away at his home in Lacey, Washington on March 5. Among his many accomplishments, Goldsmith was the Director of Resarch at the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories from 1936-1966 and founder of Washington, D.C. station WTTG-TV (5) in 1945.  

The station was a DuMont Network-owned station (as was Pittsburgh's WDTV-TV (3) - later KDKA-TV (2) ) and dubbed with Goldsmith's initials. WTTG still exists today.

Goldsmith was 99 and is survived by his wife of 70 years, Helen, three children, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

OBITUARY FROM www.theolympian.com

Thomas Toliver Goldsmith Jr.
January 9, 1910 – March 5, 2009

Thomas was born in Greenville, South Carolina and passed on at home in Lacey.
He was married to Helen Wilcox Goldsmith for 70 years. They have three children: Judson Wilcox Goldsmith, California, Thomas T. Goldsmith, III, Massachusetts, Virginia G. Beekmann, Olympia; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Thomas earned his BA at Furman University 1931, and his PhD at Cornell University 1936. He was Director of Research at Allen B. DuMont Laboratories 1936 - 1966, Professor of Physics at Furman University, 1966 - 1975, and on the Metromedia Board of Directors 1942 - 1986. He was a Fellow of IEEE, SMPTE, and Radio Club of America. He started WTTG TV Station in Washington, D.C. in 1945.
 

Thomas was known for his radiant personality and pioneering work in television development.
In his spirit of fun and technology, search his name on-line to find his Wikipedia site.
Memorial donations can be made to Providence Sound Home Care and Hospice or United Churches of Olympia
 

Memorial Service Sunday, March 15, 2009, at the United Churches of Olympia 1:30 p.m.
  

PBRTV would like to acknowledge 'Rich' who sent us this information who states, "Sad to me that his death has gone completely under the radar of the national media, who owe a LOT to people like Dr. Goldsmith."
 

Thomas Goldsmith, Jr. Archive Interview: Online Archive of American Television