Latest news with #GaryEngland
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Climate
- Wall Street Journal
Gary England, Meteorologist Who Brought Doppler to Tornado Alley, Dies at 85
When a tornado threatened, Gary England would stop to talk to kids. England, a meteorologist, would look straight into the camera with a special message for children who were home alone while their parents were at work.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Gary England, Star Meteorologist in Tornado Alley, Dies at 85
Gary England, whose childhood fascination with severe weather spawned a long career as a television meteorologist in tornado-plagued Oklahoma, where his storm warnings likely saved many lives, died on June 10 in Oklahoma City. He was 85. Bob Burke, a lawyer who wrote a biography of Mr. England, said that he died in a hospice center after a stroke last month. One of the biggest weather events of Mr. England's 41 years as the chief meteorologist at KWTV in Oklahoma City occurred on May 3, 1999, when a series of tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma and Kansas — including a catastrophic one that topped the Enhanced Fujita scale, which researchers use to rate tornadoes; it caused 46 deaths, more than 800 injuries and about $1.5 million in property damage. During live coverage that day, Mr. England talked to a storm chaser who at one point described an ominous development: A tornado funnel had quickly popped up near a much wider one. 'You folks in the path of this storm have time to get below ground,' Mr. England said. 'You need to be below ground with this storm. This is a deadly tornado.' Recalling the severity of his warning, he told NPR in 2009: 'I knew that one would get their attention because I'd never said it before and I've never said it since.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Legendary Oklahoma Meteorologist Gary England Dies at 85
Longtime KWTV chief meteorologist Gary England has died. He was 85. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma CBS affiliate said England kept Oklahomans informed for 41 years. Upon his retirement in 2013, England was called the Oklahoma's Master Meteorologist by NPR, while The New York Times called him The Weather God of Oklahoma City. 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Gary England passed this evening. Gary passed peacefully on the evening of June 10th, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 63 years, Mary, and his loving daughter, Molly. Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed,' his family said in a statement. He was known for pioneering the use of technology in forecasting. In 1981, he became the first person in history to implement Enterprise Electronics Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public. In 1990, England developed First Warning, an automated severe weather warning system that provided instant weather warning maps in the corner of the television screen. One year later, he created StormTracker, a system that projected the path of storms and the time of their arrival, a program that is now used nationwide. England authored 4 books and was the subject of another. He appeared in more than 50 national and international severe weather programs in addition to the Steven Spielberg movie "Twister." In 2006, England was a keynote speaker for the dedication of the new National Weather Center in Norman, OK. As part of the Oklahoma Centennial celebration in 2007, he was immortalized by the sculpting of his bust, which honored '100 Heroes and Outlaws' of Oklahoma repute during the state's first 100 years. England was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2013. KWTV
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Trailblazing TV weatherman Gary England dead aged 85 as dozens pay tribute
A trailblazing television meteorologist who was once hailed as 'the weather God of Oklahoma City' has died at the age of 85. Gary England was the resident chief meteorologist at local CBS affiliate, KWTV, where he kept Oklahomans informed on the weather for 41 years before he retired in 2013. England's family confirmed he died on June 10 to his former home station, and the news was announced on air by KWTV co-anchor Amanda Taylor. His colleagues and longtime viewers have already begun paying tribute to the famous weatherman. KWTV Washington Bureau Chief Alex Cameron remembered England during Wednesday's telecast, telling viewers that his peer was a 'legend' in Oklahoma City. 'I really realized that he's a very down-to-earth guy. He likes to have fun. He likes to kid. But as anyone who watched him also knew, he was extremely serious when it came to severe weather. I mean, deadly serious,' Cameron said of his friend. Cameron praised England for his coverage of a tornado in May 1999 in Oklahoma that devastated the state. 'I will never forget his words. I think this is a direct quote, but he said several times that day, "If you don't get underground, you're going to die,'" Cameron said. 'After seeing that, I realized that what Gary had said was not hyperbolic at all. It was spot on. And there's no doubt in my mind, he saved a lot of lives that day,' he continued. Fellow meteorologist Shelby Hays shared photos with England on her Facebook account and wrote, 'Gary England wasn't just a legend in meteorology; he was my dear friend & mentor. 'He was the voice I grew up hearing through stormy Oklahoma nights, and the reason I chased a career in weather.' Aaron Brackett, another meteorologist in Oklahoma, shared screenshots of encouraging messages from England on social media, and remembered his friend, 'I know the impact he had on Oklahoma. 'Early in my time with KFOR I was storm chasing in Seiling, his hometown, and noticed a road was named in his honor, and it really struck me.' Current KMTV meteorologist David Payne also paid tribute, writing on Facebook, 'There will only ever be one Gary England - an Oklahoman through and through. 'He was one of a kind and the impact he had on our state, meteorology and severe weather prediction and tracking will be felt for years and years to come.' Others who grew up watching England on television paid tribute on X, with one tweet reading, 'The greatest meteorologist of our generation. RIP Gary England!' 'Gary England should go on the Mt. Rushmore of Oklahomans. There's a reason so many of us know about the weather and aren't afraid of it, and it's because most of us grew up with him on our TV's,' another wrote. England was a household name in Oklahoma, growing up in Seiling, a small town about two hours north of Oklahoma City. He joined the Navy after high school and met his wife, Mary Carlisle, in college after his service. England joined an Oklahoma radio station in 1971 before becoming KWTV's chief meteorologist in 1972. He became the first person in history to use the Doppler weather radar in 1981, which is now a widely used technology by meteorologists. England even made a cameo in the hit 1996 film, Twister, and wrote several books, including his autobiography, Weathering the Storm. The beloved weatherman is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Molly, and granddaughters, Cassidy and Chloe His family said in a statement to KWTV, 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Gary England passed this evening. 'Gary passed peacefully on the evening of June 10th, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 63 years, Mary, and his loving daughter, Molly. 'Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed.' England is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Molly, and granddaughters, Cassidy and Chloe.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gary England, beloved CBS meteorologist who appeared in Twister, dies aged 85
Gary England, who spearheaded local weather coverage for over 40 years and became internationally recognized for his work, has died at 85. 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Gary England passed this evening,' his family said in a statement to local CBS affiliate KWTV News 9, where he worked for 41 years. 'Gary passed peacefully on the evening of June 10th, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 63 years, Mary, and his loving daughter, Molly. Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed.' Born in Seiling, Oklahoma, in 1939, England completely changed the way severe weather was covered across the United States and internationally. He made history in 1981 when he became the first person to use Enterprise Electronics' Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public. But his innovative ways didn't stop there. In 1990, England developed an automated severe weather warning system known as First Warning. The system showed warning maps in the corner of the TV screen for viewers to track serious storms. The next year, he created StormTracker, a system that projected the path of storms as well as their time of arrival. That system is now used nationwide. A 2013 Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee, England wrote four books, including an autobiography titled Weathering The Storm, and had a fifth written about his life and work. In addition to appearing in over 50 national and international severe weather programs, England was also in the opening scene of the 1996 Steven Spielberg film Twister as a meteorologist. Longtime News 9 viewers have been heartbroken to learn of England's passing. 'RIP king. I remember as a child with pretty bad Tornado anxiety in OK, it always made me feel better know Gary was on watch. What a legend,' one viewer wrote on X. 'Truly the greatest. nothing else made me feel safe during a tornado than his voice!' someone else wrote. 'The world genuinely owes him a debt of gratitude for how he advanced weather science & tech. the lives he's responsible for saving are countless. godspeed good sir,' another shared. Someone else said: 'A true pioneer and legend. He somehow always had a way of making you feel safe even in the most treacherous of storm conditions. RIP to a true legend and weather pioneer.'
