When Terry was young, his grandparents lived around the corner from his family in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He used to visit their home, get his grandmother's wooden spoon, and tie a string around the spoon. That was his "microphone". Terry's grandmother would sit in an easy chair and listen as he would "broadcast" to her.

Years later, Terry's first broadcasting job was selling advertising at a 1,000 watt radio station in Chattanooga at the age of sixteen. During high school and college, he continued to have the opportunity to work in radio in Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, and Nashville, Tennessee.  He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1978.

Terry was thankful to have been given a television news job in 1978 at WTVC, the ABC affiliate in Chattanooga.  He worked there as a reporter/anchor for about four years.

In July 1983, his wife, oldest daughter joined him in a move to Tupelo to join WTVA.  At that time they didn't know much about Tupelo—he didn't know Tupelo was Elvis' hometown.

Terry says, "God has blessed my family and me more than I ever deserve."  They have two daughters who are in college, and his wife Beth works for the Tupelo Public School District.

A member of the Church of Christ, Terry has had the privilege of serving on the board of Pinevale Children's Home, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the American Red Cross Northeast Mississippi Chapter, United Way of Northeast Mississippi, and the Community Development Foundation.

On February 20, 2010, Terry was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle, recognizing his contribution of over a quarter-century of dedication to the television industry.

Keep up with Terry on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/newsterrysmith.