Monday, January 05

Special Thanks
First and foremost, school teacher Paul Hink who recognized a unique curiosity in me after that famous 4th of July storm. In his classroom, there was a green chalkboard United States weather map, with yellow borders. It stayed clean and blank until I asked him about more information regarding the weather. After writing down a few titles of books to be found in our school library, I was hooked and he saw that. From that point on, I would deliver a weather report to the other students at the end of class. Teachers have the power, and I hope that most realize that. Also, I hope more people will call ex-teachers and say "thank-you." Thanks Mr. Hink. Other teachers in my school career before college include - Mr. Sevilla, Mr. Meyer, Mr. DiBiaso, Ms. Anderson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Harmon, and Mr. Carle. Thanks to all of you for keeping me excited about meteorology.

Diane White and June Bacon Bercy, African American women who are pioneers in Television Weather (June, if you are reading this, I would love to meet you...Thanks) Ralph Hansen General Manager at KTVI who took a chance on a first semester freshman in college Jim Wright and his successor Gil Engler, News Directors at KPLR who took a chance on a third year meteorology student Mike Smith (founder of WeatherData, Inc in Wichita) who taught me tons about forecasting Midwest Weather, when he was my Chief at KTVI. He is also the reason I have been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug Dr. Henry Fuelberg my advisor throughout all of my years at Saint Louis University (now at Florida State) Ron Yaros (Creator of WeatherSchool) weather anchor at KTVI who helped bring me back to Channel 2 after my two year stint at KPLR. Donn Johnson, my big brother and friend in my newsroom at KTVI Michel Brown, my big brother and friend across town from my newsroom at KSD. I miss ya' Mike. The world misses you. You were taken from us WAY too early Dino Dinovitz GM - KMBC for giving a recent graduate his first 3-year contract Brian Bracco ND who promoted me to the weeknight anchor team at KMBC in 1988

Pam Pulner - my agent since the early 1990's, who has kept me on the road to being the best I can on and off the camera. She pretty much single-handedly made me more successful in the field, well beyond my wildest dreams. Her agency, Pam Pulner and Associates is one of the best in the industry. Prior to Pam, David Crane helped mold me in the very early years in St. Louis and Steve Porricelli negotiated my start in Kansas City. Thank-you gentlemen.

Favorite quote: Dave Clegern was my first weekend producer at KTVI in St. Louis. Trust me, it was not that easy for me to be a teen on TV in St. Louis, nor was it easy on Dave to have such a "green" anchor. Viewers in a large market are used to more polished performances from their broadcasters. I was so scared when I first started. It didn't go away for the first three years I was on TV.

Dave's advise about covering up a mistake... "If you swallow fire for a living you can NEVER let your audience see you burn yourself."

In appreciation of my mentors

Dick Goddard
WJW-TV
Cleveland, Ohio
1969 to present
imageIt was the 4th of July, 1969. That was the first Tornado Watch I can remember. I was spellbound (no, scared is more accurate) by the severity of the thunder and lightning! So, I put a call into "Cleveland's Weather God." Dick took my call, and invited my family down to watch a newscast. From that point on, I have been hooked. Unquestionably, he is the dean of all weather anchors in Cleveland. Not many weatherpeople can stay in the same market, let alone the same station since 1959! He has been on Cleveland TV longer than I have been on the planet! Any meteorologist who was born there has to recognize the fact they have been influenced by Dick.
Al Roker
NBC Today Show
New York, New York
1978 - present
imageYes gang, I was a weather geek in my youth. In high school I was a weather watcher for Al when he was working at WKYC-TV in Cleveland. When I would come home from school, I would visit both he and Dick. We were going to hook up for a meal back in August of 1998, when I had the pleasure of working with his wife, ABC news correspondent Deborah Roberts (at the time, news anchor on Good Morning America). I was substituting for the vacationing Spencer Christian that week. Because of our schedules, we never "did lunch," but we still try to keep in touch. He has helped me have the confidence to blend humor with on-air weather presentations, and still be credible. Maybe someday I will be as clever. Bottom line - His advice to me about the business is second to none.
Spencer Christian
KGO-TV
San Francisco, California
1989 - present
imageSpencer and I first met when he was doing a remote broadcast for Good Morning America from Kansas City. It was a very cool morning - no it was a bitter COLD dawn, with wind chills down to -40. (If you ever meet him, ask him about this. He will tell you the exact date!) You may know he is the master of puns, but he's so much more. A few years back for black history month, he, Steve Poole from KOMO Seattle (who substituted for Spencer on GMA very frequently) and I did a national on-line chat room with school children from every corner of the country. I knew it before, but Spencer is a deep man, whose character I hope to emulate. He is a class act, and a gentleman.