CHICAGO (Sun June 17, 2001) (AP) _ Longtime Chicago sportscaster Tim Weigel died Sunday morning at his home in Evanston, Ill. He was 56.

Weigel died at 5:20 a.m. Sunday, his son, Rafer Weigel, said.

Tim Weigel was diagnosed with the brain tumor last year and had his first surgery on Father's Day last June, after tests showed a lesion on his brain.

Tim Weigel covered Chicago-area sports in print, radio and television for almost 30 years. He started his career at the defunct Chicago Daily News in 1971 and also worked for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Weigel became the sports director at WBBM-TV in 1995 and previously worked for WLS-TV and WMAQ-TV. He won several awards throughout his career including four local Emmy Awards.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki Truax-Weigel; his father, a son, two daughters, a brother and a sister.

A memorial service is planned for Wednesday at First Congregational Church of Evanston.

Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.