Profile for Tom Crabtree

Anchor at WSPA-TV

His 33 years in television and radio news put Tom Crabtree among the most experienced and versatile broadcast journalists in the Carolinas. This native Carolinian anchors the 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 11:00 pm newscasts on 7 On Your Side.

Tom also produces and anchors "Voice of the Viewer," a special feature each Thursday on 7 On Your Side at 5:30 that gives viewers a unique opportunity to speak out on issues involving the station's news coverage. Tom was xml_named 2006 Anchor of the Year by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. He was runner-up for the SCBA honor in 2005 and 2007. During Tom's years on the anchor desk, 7 On Your Side has won several Southeastern Emmys for Best Newscast and received other Emmy nominations.

Tom is in great demand as a community public speaker and has emceed the Miss South Carolina Pageant statewide broadcast. He leads 7 On Your Side's community outreach on the 2009 transition to DTV (digital television) by educating church and civic groups about the new technology. Tom also gives his time to numerous community causes. You'll see him at the March of Dimes Walk for Babies, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Alzheimer's Association fundraisers, and the National Day of Prayer, plus he has been a blood donor for more than 30 years.

During his time at N.C. State University (B.A. Speech Communication 1977), Tom spent a year as an intern with WITN-TV in Washington, North Carolina and was news director of NCSU's campus radio station. His early career included news director positions at radio stations in Rocky Mount, Roanoke Rapids and Salisbury, North Carolina.

While in Salisbury (WSTP/WRDX-FM) Tom was the play-by-play voice of Catawba College football. Tom has lived in Spartanburg since 1981 when he joined WSPA Radio as a reporter, then became news director. In 1983, Tom joined 7 On Your Side. Before going to the anchor desk fulltime, Tom held the positions of assignment editor, Spartanburg bureau reporter, Greenville bureau chief, and weekend anchor.

Tom's reporting focus in recent years has included crime trends and crime prevention, highway safety, the recovery and preservation of the Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley, and politics. During the 2009 political season, Tom has brought his viewers exclusive interviews with presidential candidates John McCain, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee and Hillary Clinton. Tom is also one of 7 On Your Side's most experienced hurricane reporters, his credits including coverage of hurricanes Hugo (1989), Bonnie (1998), Charley (2004) and Katrina (2005).

His documentary on South Carolina's confederate flag controversy received a first-place award from the S.C. Associated Press. In 1998, he reported live from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on John Glenn's historic return to outer space aboard a space shuttle. In June 2007, he anchored live from Charleston just hours after the Sofa Super Store fire that claimed the lives of nine firefighters. Tom's career with 7 On Your Side has taken him to several countries. In 1994, his reports from England and France were featured in an award-winning series about the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. In 1998, he toured Israel at the invitation of the Israeli government for a series of reports on that nation's 50th anniversary.

In 1999, Tom visited Switzerland for a series of reports on that country's close economic and cultural ties with Upstate South Carolina. Tom is also well-known in the western Carolinas as a musician and singer. He leads the Spartanburg-based band "Rock and Roll Reunion," which he formed in 1994. He also performs as a solo guitarist/singer (to see Tom perform on YouTube, visit www.tomcrabtreelive.com and click on "music videos").

As a native of the Carolinas, Tom has a unique rapport with 7 On Your Side's audience. He grew up on a farm in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and has spent his entire life in the Carolinas. Tom and his wife Gayle have two daughters, Lauren and Kayla.

The Crabtrees are members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. Tom's hobbies include basketball, guitar, rock and roll music, and traveling in the Carolinas.

Recent Content

Stand Your Ground Laws

What are your rights when it comes to standing your ground in South Carolina?

05/03/2012 2:27 PM
Tom Crabtree

The First Snake of the Season

Folks, I'm loving this early spring weather.About three weeks ahead of schedule, I already have a good bit of garden in the ground.Today I gave my garden spot a thorough tilling, then I planted tomatoes, squash, peppers, lettuce, onions and strawberries.When it was time to stop farming and get ready for the television station, I went to my backyard spigot and was about to turn it off... when I made two discoveries.First I saw a rather large toad.Then I noticed something was connected to the toad...A rather large snake!

03/29/2012 10:41 PM
Tom Crabtree

Remembering Native Son Earl Scruggs

America has lost one of its true music masters today.And our area has lost a vastly talented native son.Earl Scruggs, native of Shelby, North Carolina, died today in a Nashville, Tennessee hospital. He was 88 years old.

03/28/2012 10:01 PM
Tom Crabtree

Historic "Day of the ipad" at Seven on Your Side

It's been a historic day at "Seven On Your Side"... This day technology won another battle against paper. Take a close look at the anchor desk in wide camera shots. Notice a couple of additional gizmos?

03/13/2012 11:39 PM
Tom Crabtree

Crucial Mission of Our Local Food Ministries

This day provided an experience for me that was both heart-warming and heart-breaking.Heart-warming in that I saw the wonderful ministry of a local charity.Heart-breaking because I saw first-hand the desperate need this charity and others like it fulfill.

03/12/2012 11:36 PM
Tom Crabtree

The Play by Play of the Great Interstate Chase

It was the most compelling local television in quite some time.Tonight "Seven On Your Side" viewers were glued to their sets as we brought them an hour of exclusive live coverage while officers chased a stolen car for 90 miles.

03/06/2012 10:39 PM
Tom Crabtree

The Davy Jones/Monkees Legacy

Rock stars of the 1960s like Davy Jones and his band "The Monkees" made it big without any help from social media. Their era was pre-email, tweets, Facebook and Youtube.Their popularity came from television, radio, records (the vinyl kind) and teen magazines.

02/29/2012 10:17 PM
Wednesday, February 29: Leap Day of Leap Year 2012

7 On Your Side's Tom Crabtree looked into what's happening on Leap Day around our area.

02/29/2012 5:50 PM
Tom Crabtree

Product to Waterproof Cell Phones Would've Come in Handy

Did you catch this story in our news Monday night (1/30)? It was one of the "talker" stories. A California company called "Liquipel" has developed a way to waterproof your cell phone. The company says its nanocoating technique penetrates the entire phone, waterproofing all the vital components. If your phone has a water-related mishap, such as an accidental splash into the toilet, the phone will supposedly still work.

01/31/2012 10:26 PM
GOP Presidential Hopefuls Make Their Cases At Presidential Forum

GOP Presidential hopefuls Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum stated their cases for the Republican nomination at a forum in Duncan.

01/13/2012 10:32 PM
Tom Crabtree

BMW and the Carroll Campbell Legacy

Another huge expansion is announced by BMW. Three hundred more jobs, perhaps as many as a thousand, for the Upstate. An additional investment of $900 million. A new model, the BMW X-4, to be built at the Greer plant. The only regret on this day is that the crowd of movers and shakers on hand for the announcement couldn't include former governor (1987-1995) Carroll Campbell of Greenville.

01/12/2012 10:28 PM
Tom Crabtree

Why No Amber Alert in Missing Child Case

Sometimes news stories have a happy ending, and thankfully, that was the case last weekend. A day after he wandered away from his home in Spartanburg County's Cross Anchor community, 21-month-old Jason Burton was found safe. Many of you have raised an important question about the incident. I received this Facebook post from Dede Hensley:

12/22/2011 8:20 PM
Tom Crabtree

Making A "Thankful" List And Checking It Twice

It's the time of year for reflecting on the things for which we are thankful.

11/23/2011 10:32 PM
The DNA Connection - Part 1

DNA has opened a big new door to discovering where we come from.

11/21/2011 5:36 PM
Seven On Your Side Checks GOP Presidential Debate Facts

"Seven On Your Side" is checking the accuracy of the candidates' claims from Saturday night's GOP presidential debate at Wofford College.

11/14/2011 11:57 PM
Tom Crabtree

Local Sheriff's Comments Renew Gun Debate

Sunday's attempted rape at Milliken Park in Spartanburg has reignited local debate on guns and put the Upstate in the national spotlight after comments by Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright.

11/02/2011 9:25 PM
Tom Crabtree

Scott Pelley's Visit to the Upstate

I apologize for not blogging sooner about CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Scott Pelley's visit to Clemson University (Sunday 9/25). Blame it on a very busy week. Finally tonight, there is time to share my experience with you. My daughters Lauren and Kayla joined me, Seven on Your Side morning anchor and consumer reporter Diane Lee, and Seven on Your Side 5 pm producer Kathryn Foessel, in representing WSPA-TV at a luncheon honoring Pelley and his family.

09/30/2011 10:30 PM
Tom Crabtree

Behind-the-Scenes Staffer Shines in Debut as Live Reporter

She's gone from behind-the-scenes manager to being the hottest new talent at "Seven on Your Side." A new talent who's worked here for decades. We are so very proud of our news assignment manager, Mary Lu Saylor. Thursday night 9/29, she had the opportunity to do something totally new in her career as a journalist... Appear on live television.

09/30/2011 8:43 PM
Tom Crabtree

A Daily Reminder of 9-11

How many times this week has someone asked, "What were you doing when 9-11 happened?" Reminders are everywhere that a special, solemn anniversary is being observed this Sunday. A simple lapel pin reminds me of the 9-11 attacks.

09/09/2011 10:29 PM
Tom Crabtree

How Can I Help the Hurricane Victims?

This weekend, the world becomes vastly different for our friends and family in the path of Hurricane Irene. Many families will find themselves without electricity or other utilities, possibly for a lengthy time. Others will discover their homes, churches and places of employment have been heavily damaged, perhaps even washed away. And there will be even greater losses where a loved one has been badly injured or died from the storm's fury.

08/26/2011 9:36 PM