Ron Childers is a respected American meteorologist and longtime Memphis television personality best known for his work as Chief Meteorologist at Action News 5. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he began his broadcasting career in local radio during the early 1980s before moving into television in 1989. Over the years, Childers has become a familiar face in weather forecasting, particularly for viewers across the Mid-South. His professional achievements include an Emmy Award and the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval. Beyond his career, many people are interested in his personal life, including his wife Joyce Peterson, their daughter Emily, family life, age, education, and career achievements.
Who Is Ron Childers?
Ron Childers is an American television meteorologist who has spent much of his professional life serving viewers in Memphis and the surrounding Mid-South region. He is a native Memphian and is currently the Chief Meteorologist at Action News 5. The station says he forecasts weather for its weekday evening newscasts.
Childers is particularly recognized for his long experience forecasting severe weather, including major storms that have affected the Memphis area. His work has earned him professional recognition, including an Emmy Award and the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval.
Ron Childers Age and Early Life
Ron Childers was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, and his connection to the city has remained an important part of his career. His official Action News 5 biography identifies him as a native Memphian but does not publish his date of birth or exact age.
Some third-party biography websites report that Childers was born on June 28, 1963. If that date is accurate, he is 63 years old in August 2026. However, because his current official station biography does not independently confirm the date of birth, the birth date should be treated as reported rather than as an officially verified fact.
Where Did Ron Childers Go to High School?
Ron Childers is a native of Memphis, but his official Action News 5 biography does not identify the high school he attended. The station biography focuses instead on his broadcasting career and his later meteorological training at Mississippi State University.
Because a reliable source has not confirmed his high school, it would be inaccurate to name a school based only on unsourced biography websites. This is one of the details about Ron Childers that remains publicly unclear.
Ron Childers Education
Although his high school information is not clearly documented in his official biography, Childers did complete professional meteorological training at Mississippi State University.
According to his station biography, he pursued weather forecasting full time in the mid-1990s and subsequently earned a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. This training helped him build his professional credentials as a television meteorologist.
He is also a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association and holds the prestigious AMS Seal of Approval.
Ron Childers Career
Ron Childers began his broadcasting career in Memphis radio in the early 1980s. His first work was at WRVR, followed by WMC FM 100. These early radio positions gave him experience in broadcasting before he moved into television.
In 1989, Childers moved from radio to Action News 5 television. Initially, he worked as a marketing and promotion producer and part-time weathercaster. During the mid-1990s, he decided to pursue weather forecasting as a full-time career.
His long career eventually led to his appointment as Chief Meteorologist. In 2015, Action News 5 announced that Childers would take over the Chief Meteorologist position from longtime meteorologist Dave Brown beginning September 1, 2015.
Today, he continues to appear on Action News 5’s weather broadcasts and contributes forecasts covering the Memphis and Mid-South area. Recent Action News 5 weather reports also show him continuing to provide forecasts in 2026.
Ron Childers Awards and Achievements
Childers has received recognition throughout his broadcasting career. According to his official biography, he won an Emmy Award in 2000 for his coverage of a winter storm that brought significant snow to the area.
He later received an Emmy nomination for Best Weathercast in 2005. In 2010, he was again nominated for an Emmy for his weekly weather web chat on actionnews5.com.
His community work has also been recognized. In 2011, Diversity Memphis awarded Childers its Humanitarian of the Year Award for his civic and charitable activities. He has also participated in school, club and community events and has served as an emcee and auctioneer for fundraisers.
Who Is Ron Childers’ Wife, Joyce Peterson?
Ron Childers is married to Joyce Peterson, an award-winning anchor and reporter at Action News 5. The station describes Peterson as a second-generation television journalist who has reported news in the Mid-South for more than 25 years.
Joyce joined WMC-TV in January 1994 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she studied broadcast communications and also minored in political science and Russian studies.
The couple are both familiar faces at Action News 5, with Ron working in weather and Joyce working as an anchor and reporter. Joyce returned to Action News 5 in 2018 after more than a decade at ABC24, allowing the couple to work together on the same television team again.
When Did Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson Get Married?
Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson have been married since 2001. Joyce Peterson’s station biography specifically states that the couple has been married since 2001 and that they are scheduled to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in September 2026.
This makes 2026 an important milestone for the couple as they reach 25 years of marriage.
How Long Have Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson Been Married?
As of August 2026, Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson have been married for nearly 25 years. Their official station biography says they married in 2001 and will celebrate their 25th anniversary in September 2026.
Their long marriage has also been mentioned in Action News 5 material, where Joyce has referred warmly to her husband and their shared connection to Memphis.
Do Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson Have Children?
Yes. Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson have one daughter named Emily. Joyce Peterson’s official biography states that Emily lives and works in New York City.
The couple generally keeps their daughter’s personal life private, so there is limited reliable public information about Emily’s age, education, or career beyond what her mother’s station biography states.
Ron Childers’ Daughter
Ron Childers’ daughter is named Emily. According to Joyce Peterson’s current biography, Emily lives and works in New York City. This is the clearest publicly available information from a station source about the couple’s daughter.
Because Emily is not a public television personality herself, additional personal information about her should not be presented as fact unless it comes from a reliable public source.
Ron Childers First Wife: Was He Married Before Joyce Peterson?
There is no reliable official source currently confirming that Ron Childers had a first wife before Joyce Peterson.
His official Action News 5 biography simply identifies Joyce Peterson as his wife, while Joyce’s official biography states that she and Ron have been married since 2001.
Some websites may publish claims about a previous marriage, but without confirmation from a reputable source, those claims should not be treated as established facts. Therefore, it is safest to say that Ron Childers’ first wife has not been reliably confirmed in publicly available sources.
Ron Childers Net Worth
Ron Childers’ exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed by Action News 5 or another authoritative financial source. Some third-party websites estimate his net worth at around $2 million, but these figures are not independently verified.
For that reason, his net worth should be described as an estimated figure, rather than a confirmed amount. His long career as a television meteorologist, leadership role as Chief Meteorologist, Emmy recognition, and decades in broadcasting suggest that he has built a successful professional career, but his personal finances are private.
Ron Childers Salary
There is no official public salary figure for Ron Childers. Third-party websites sometimes publish estimated salary figures, but these amounts are not confirmed by Action News 5 or by Childers himself.
As Chief Meteorologist at a major local television station with decades of experience, he holds a senior broadcasting position. However, his actual salary remains private.
Ron Childers’ Connection to Memphis
Memphis has played a central role in Ron Childers’ life and career. He was born and raised in the city and began his broadcasting career there. Even after decades in television, he has remained closely connected to the Memphis community.
His wife, Joyce Peterson, has also developed a long career in Memphis television. In a 2019 Action News 5 piece, Peterson described Ron as someone who was born and raised in Memphis and expressed his strong connection to the city.
Ron Childers’ Community Work
Beyond weather forecasting, Childers has participated in community and charitable activities. His official biography says he regularly speaks to schools, clubs and civic groups and has served as an emcee and auctioneer for fundraisers. He also volunteers with charitable organizations.
His community involvement contributed to his receiving the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Diversity Memphis in 2011.
Is Ron Childers Still Working at Action News 5?
Yes. Ron Childers remains associated with Action News 5 as its Chief Meteorologist. The station’s current team page identifies him in that role, and his recent 2026 weather reports show that he continues to provide forecasts for the Mid-South.
His continuing presence on local television has made him one of the recognizable weather personalities in the Memphis area.
Ron Childers Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ron Childers |
| Profession | Meteorologist |
| Current Role | Chief Meteorologist at Action News 5 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Age | Not officially confirmed |
| Wife | Joyce Peterson |
| Marriage Year | 2001 |
| Children | One daughter, Emily |
| Daughter | Emily |
| Education | Mississippi State University – Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology |
| Career Start | Early 1980s |
| Television Career | Began in 1989 |
| Awards | Emmy Award; AMS Seal of Approval |
| Net Worth | Not officially disclosed; online estimates vary |
Final Thoughts
Ron Childers has built a long and respected career in Memphis broadcasting, moving from local radio in the early 1980s to television weather forecasting and eventually becoming Chief Meteorologist at Action News 5. His Emmy-winning work, meteorological training, community involvement, and decades of service have made him a familiar figure in the Mid-South.
His personal life has also attracted interest because of his marriage to fellow journalist Joyce Peterson. The couple have been married since 2001 and have one daughter, Emily. As of 2026, they are preparing to celebrate 25 years of marriage.
While some details frequently searched online—including Ron Childers’ exact age, high school, first wife, salary, and net worth—are not fully confirmed by authoritative sources, the verified information provides a clear picture of his career, family and lasting connection to Memphis.
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FAQs
How old is Ron Childers?
Ron Childers’ official Action News 5 biography does not publish his date of birth. Some third-party sources report that he was born June 28, 1963, which would make him 63 in August 2026, but that date is not independently confirmed by his station.
Who is Ron Childers’ wife?
Ron Childers’ wife is Joyce Peterson, an Emmy-nominated, award-winning anchor and reporter at Action News 5.
When did Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson get married?
Ron Childers and Joyce Peterson have been married since 2001. They are scheduled to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in September 2026.
Who was Ron Childers’ first wife?
There is no reliable official source confirming that Ron Childers had a first wife before Joyce Peterson. His current station biography identifies Joyce Peterson as his wife, and the couple has been married since 2001.
What is Ron Childers’ net worth?
Ron Childers’ exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some third-party websites estimate it at around $2 million, but this figure should be treated as an estimate rather than an official financial figure.
