Legendary television meteorologist Gary England has died. According to his long-time employer KWTV, the CBS affiliate Channel 9 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, England passed away on Tuesday at age 85.
England joined the station in 1972 and brought all-time firsts to the television meteorology industry.
In May 1973, England became the first television meteorologist to incorporate doppler weather radar into a broadcast. During that tornado outbreak, England was able to break in a live television broadcast and use radar to show viewers where the tornado was and where it was headed, saving lives in the process. Officials said that F4 tornado only claimed two lives and they attribute the fact more lives weren’t lost to England’s broadcast.
In 1981, England became the first meteorologist to broadcast a tornado on the ground using both a chase team and helicopter. In the same year, he used weather radar to declare tornado warning areas to his viewers.
In 1991, England rolled out his “FIRST WARNING” system, which displayed tornado warnings as graphical icons on TV viewer screens.
These firsts by England are now commonplace throughout the broadcast meteorological community.
England also appeared within the opening minutes of the hit 1996 movie “Twister”, where file footage of him from KWTV was used in the movie’s first featured tornado outbreak.
Gary England was also a firm believer that mankind is not responsible for a changing climate on Earth. In a 2007 interview with Yahoo! News, England said, “The climate has always been changing and it will most likely always continue to change. In the distant past, we have been much colder than we are now and we have been much warmer than we are now. And all of that happened many times without humans.” He added, “Here in Oklahoma we’re a little warmer than we were 30 years ago. Recently we ended a two year drought and it has been replaced with significant, long duration rains. Is all of this a result of global warming? Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. You see, no one really knows. If they say they do, I suggest that person is confused at best or has an agenda at the worst.”
After graduating from high school, England joined the U.S. Navy at age 17, where he first began to study weather. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1965 with a B.S. in mathematics and meteorology. His first broadcast job was on radio at KTOK-AM; after a year there, he joined KWTV and remained there for 41 years. England retired from his role at KTVW in August 2013 and joined the station’s parent company, Griffin Communications, as Vice President for Corporate Relations and Weather Development.
England earned a slew of state, regional and national honors, including multiple Emmys, the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for best-in-the-nation in breaking weather coverage in all large markets. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2013.
Numerous individuals and organizations have expressed sadness over England’s passing.
“The University of Oklahoma mourns the passing of Gary England, a beloved Oklahoma icon and distinguished OU alumnus,” the university wrote on X. They released a full statement: “The OU family is heartbroken by the loss of Gary England –a proud alumnus, a true Oklahoma icon, and a pioneering figure in meteorology. His groundbreaking innovations transformed severe weather forecasting and kept generations of Oklahomans safe. Gary’s remarkable legacy will forever resonate across OU, Oklahoma, and beyond.” The remarks were released by the University President, Joseph Harroz, Jr.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt wrote on X, “Oklahoma has lost a legend. Gary England was more than a meteorologist but a trusted voice through our fiercest storms. My prayers are with his family during this time.”
Jim Cantore, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, wrote on X: “This man’s contributions to our weather enterprise are too many to count. He was a leader in our industry and a leader for the people in the state for which he served.”
Gary England’s family released this statement:
“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 grandchildren Chloe and Cassidy.
