After 38 years of service, popular Chief Meteorologist Ron Hearst announced his retirement from KY3, adding to the growing list of television meteorologists that are retiring or being cut from newscasts across the country. KY3, formally known as KYTV, is the NBC affiliated television station in Springfield, Missouri serving the Ozarks region. As the Chief Meteorologist, Hearst delivered weather content on the station’s 6 pm and 10 pm broadcasts. He also can be seen in the KY3 News broadcast which airs on the CW network at 9 pm.

“Many of our viewers have grown up with Ron, watching him during some of the hardest and most stressful times of their lives. A day doesn’t go by without someone reminding us how valuable he is to the community,” KY3 News Director Bridget Lovelle said.

“It has been an honor to serve the Ozarks. I want to thank viewers for allowing me into their homes. I have tried my best to provide an accurate forecast that folks can use to protect themselves and their families,” Hearst said.

“Ron has devoted decades to keeping the Ozarks safe and informed. He built our First Alert Weather Team into one of the nation’s finest, and we are forever grateful,” KY3 General Manager Brian McDonough said. “We will miss his presence in our hallways and his thoughtful severe weather coverage that brought attention to every community, no matter how small.”

Hearst’s broadcast career began at WSIL-TV in Harrisburg, Illinois, followed by KSPR in Springfield, where he first became a chief meteorologist. He later worked at KJRH in Tulsa and KMOV in St. Louis. In July 1993, Hearst returned to Springfield to join KY3 as the morning meteorologist. Following Tom Dye’s retirement in 2000, Hearts was named the Chief Meteorologist for the station.