Ron Childers is a familiar face to television viewers in Memphis, Tennessee. Known for his weather forecasts and decades of broadcasting experience, he has become an established figure in local news. Many viewers searching for Ron Childers age also want to know about his birthday, personal life, wife, education, and professional achievements.
Ron Childers is 63 years old as of October 2026. He was born in 1963 and has spent much of his professional life working in Memphis broadcasting. Today, he serves as the chief meteorologist at WMC-TV’s Action News 5. This article explores his age, early life, successful television career, family background, awards, and latest professional updates in 2026.
Ron Childers Age: How Old Is He in 2026?
Ron Childers is 63 years old in 2026. His birth year is 1963, and he celebrated his 63rd birthday in June 2026.
His age can be confirmed through a memorable event from June 2013. Action News 5 reported that Childers celebrated his 50th birthday by going skydiving with his wife and daughter. This birthday celebration confirms that he turned 50 in 2013.
Some online biographies list June 28, 1963, as his exact birth date. However, the more firmly established information is his birth year and June birthday.
Unlike many television personalities whose personal details receive little public attention, Childers has shared occasional family experiences with viewers. His birthday skydiving adventure was one example.
At 63, Childers continues to work in television weather forecasting. His age reflects a broadcasting career that has developed over several decades, from local radio to one of Memphis’s established television newsrooms.
Who Is Ron Childers? Early Life and Background
Ron Childers is an American television meteorologist best known for his work at Action News 5 in Memphis.
He is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and has strong connections to the city where he grew up and developed his professional career.
According to his official broadcasting biography, Childers is a second-generation Mexican-American. His background is part of his personal identity, although he generally receives more public attention for his weather reporting.
Growing up in Memphis gave Childers firsthand knowledge of the Mid-South region. This later became valuable in his professional life because local weather can change quickly throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
The region experiences summer heat, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, tornado threats, and occasional winter storms. These conditions require careful forecasting and clear communication.
Information about his parents, childhood schooling, and other early family details is limited in publicly available biographies. However, his connection to Memphis has remained an important part of his story.
Rather than building his career by frequently changing television markets, Childers developed much of his professional experience in his hometown.
Ron Childers Career: From Radio to Television
Ron Childers began his broadcasting career in Memphis radio during the early 1980s.
He worked at WRVR before moving to WMC’s FM 100 in 1986. At FM 100, he worked as a disc jockey and production director, gaining experience in broadcasting and communication.
Radio helped him develop skills that later proved useful on television. Broadcasters must explain information clearly, speak confidently, and keep audiences interested.
Around 1989–1990, Childers transitioned into television at Action News 5. His early responsibilities included marketing, promotional production, and part-time weather reporting.
This change marked an important stage in his professional development.
During the mid-1990s, he began concentrating on weather forecasting as a full-time career.
His responsibilities increased as he gained experience covering major weather events across the Mid-South.
In September 2015, Childers became chief meteorologist at Action News 5 after longtime meteorologist Dave Brown retired.
Brown had been an important professional mentor to Childers. Taking over the chief meteorologist position represented a significant achievement in his broadcasting journey.
By October 2026, Childers had held that leadership position for more than eleven years.
Ron Childers Education and Meteorology Qualifications
One reason Ron Childers has maintained such a long broadcasting career is his professional training in weather forecasting.
After moving into full-time weather reporting, he earned a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
This qualification helped strengthen his understanding of meteorology and the scientific principles behind weather forecasting.
Meteorologists must interpret information from multiple sources, including radar images, atmospheric observations, computer forecast models, and weather warnings.
However, understanding weather information is only part of the job. Television meteorologists must also explain complicated conditions in language that viewers can understand.
Childers developed both technical knowledge and communication experience throughout his career.
He holds the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval, a professional recognition associated with broadcast weather expertise.
He has also been involved with meteorological organizations, including the local Memphis chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association.
These qualifications help explain his longstanding role in regional television weather coverage.
Major Weather Events and Professional Achievements
During his career, Ron Childers has reported on several memorable weather events affecting Memphis and surrounding communities.
One important example was the severe ice storm that struck the region in 1994. This event caused widespread disruption and remains a notable part of the Mid-South’s weather history.
He also covered the powerful 2003 storm commonly known as Hurricane Elvis.
Despite its nickname, this was not a tropical hurricane. The term became associated with the destructive winds and widespread damage experienced around Memphis.
Childers has also reported on major winter weather, dangerous thunderstorms, extreme heat, and severe weather emergencies.
His coverage of a winter storm earned him an Emmy Award in 2000.
Additional professional recognition followed, including Emmy nominations in 2005 and 2010.
In April 2025, Childers helped cover a prolonged period of dangerous storms affecting the Mid-South.
Weather coverage during emergencies requires more than presenting daily temperatures. Viewers need information about developing threats, warning areas, expected conditions, and possible safety risks.
Childers’ extensive experience has made severe weather coverage a major part of his professional career.
His achievements also demonstrate how local television meteorologists can play an important role in providing public safety information.
Ron Childers Wife, Daughter and Personal Life
Ron Childers is married to Joyce Peterson, an experienced television journalist and Action News 5 anchor and reporter.
The couple married in 2001 and reached their 25th wedding anniversary in September 2026.
Joyce has built her own broadcasting career through reporting, anchoring, and covering important local events.
She returned to Action News 5 in 2018, allowing the couple to work at the same television station.
Although they have separate professional responsibilities, both are recognizable members of the Memphis news community.
Ron and Joyce have one daughter named Emily. According to Joyce Peterson’s professional biography, Emily lives and works in New York City.
The family has occasionally appeared in public stories connected to Childers’ career.
One memorable example was the 2013 birthday skydiving trip. Ron celebrated turning 50 by jumping from an airplane alongside his wife and daughter.
Beyond these publicly shared details, Childers generally keeps much of his private family life away from television coverage.
There is no need to assume additional information about his family that has not been publicly confirmed.
Ron Childers in 2026: Current Career and Community Involvement
As of 2026, Ron Childers continues serving as chief meteorologist at Action News 5.
His regular weekday weather forecasts air during the station’s 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts.
December 2026 will mark 40 years since he joined WMC in 1986, an important milestone in his broadcasting career.
His community activities also remain significant.
In August 2026, Action News 5 announced that Childers had been selected for the Leadership Memphis Executive Program Class of 2027.
This program brings together professionals from different industries to strengthen community connections and leadership.
His selection reflects his continuing involvement in the Memphis area beyond weather forecasting.
Childers has also participated in school presentations, community events, charitable activities, and local fundraising efforts.
In 2011, Diversity Memphis recognized him with its Humanitarian of the Year Award for civic and charitable involvement.
These activities form another important part of his professional and public identity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ron Childers
How old is Ron Childers now?
Ron Childers is 63 years old as of October 2026. He was born in 1963.
When is Ron Childers’ birthday?
His birthday is in June. Some biographical websites identify June 28 as the exact date.
Who is Ron Childers married to?
Ron Childers is married to Joyce Peterson, a television news anchor and reporter at Action News 5. They married in 2001.
Does Ron Childers have children?
Yes. Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson have one daughter named Emily.
Where does Ron Childers work?
He works as chief meteorologist at WMC-TV’s Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee.
When did Ron Childers become chief meteorologist?
He became chief meteorologist on September 1, 2015, succeeding longtime weather broadcaster Dave Brown.
Conclusion
Ron Childers’ age is 63 as of October 2026, but his professional experience is the more important part of his public story. Beginning in Memphis radio during the early 1980s, he gradually developed a successful career in television meteorology.
His work at Action News 5, professional awards, weather forecasting qualifications, and charitable involvement have made him a familiar presence in the Mid-South.
With nearly four decades at WMC and more than eleven years as chief meteorologist, Childers continues contributing to local weather coverage in 2026. His career demonstrates the value of experience, professional development, and dedication to the community he serves.
Hi, I’m Alex Morgan, a passionate writer at The Quick Magazine. I cover biographies, business, lifestyle, news, and trending stories, with a focus on creating clear, engaging, and well-researched content for readers.
