Tom Mees

Thomas E. Mees (b. October 13, 1949, d. August 14, 1996 at Southington, Connecticut)

Tom Mees was an American sports broadcaster specializing in ice hockey. He began his career as a student at the University of Delaware. He then took a job as sports director at WILM-AM in Wilmington, Delaware.

After six years in Wilmington and one year in Tallahassee, Florida, Mees was hired by ESPN as one of their first on-air personalities for the network's launch on September 7, 1979.

Mees was a lead anchor on Sportscenter from 1979 to 1987 when he took on play-by-play duties for NHL games on ESPN. ESPN later lost the NHL contract to Sportschannel America and Mees returned full time to Sportscenter. When the NHL returned to ESPN, Mees worked NHL games during the season and hosted Sportscenter in the off-season.

By the 15th anniversary of ESPN, Mees was just one of three, along with Chris Berman and Bob Ley, original Sportscenter anchors still with the network.

It was assumed that Mees would be with the network for many more anniversaries but on August 14, 1996, Mees drowned attempting to save one of his daughters who had fallen into a swimming pool. His daughter survived but efforts to save the 46 year old Mees were unsuccessful.