Gary England, pioneering News 9 Oklahoma meteorologist, dies at 85
Trailblazing meteorologist Gary England, who for four decades told Oklahoma television audiences to "Stay tuned; we'll keep you advised," died Tuesday, June 10. He was 85.
A native of Seiling, Oklahoma, England retired in 2013 as the chief meteorologist for KWTV, over 40 years after he first joined the CBS-affiliated station.
KWTV co-anchor Amanda Taylor announced England's death June 10 on the channel's 10 p.m. newscast.
When he stepped away from the green screens of the News 9 Weather Center after several decades, England was lauded by the news world: NPR dubbed him "Oklahoma's Master Meteorologist," while The New York Times hailed him as "The Weather God of Oklahoma City."
"Gary England was a weather coverage pioneer; there is no telling how many future meteorologists he influenced in his many years making weather science available and understandable to as many Oklahomans as possible," Sherry Marshall, the CEO of Science Museum Oklahoma, wrote in an email to The Oklahoman, part of the Paste BN Network. "He 'raised' an entire generation of future meteorologists who now carry on his legacy.
"Beyond his impact on future generations, countless lives were saved through his commitment and dedication to building better weather awareness and keeping us safe," she continued. "Gary England simply shaped the way Oklahomans understand weather."
News 9's Gary England developed a fascination with storms from a young age
Born Oct. 3, 1939, to Hazel and Leslie England, the future weatherman was still a teenager when he charged a $16 camera to his father's drug store account and started taking photographs of the clouds rolling across the northwestern Oklahoma skies.
"I liked storms. They scared the heck out of me, but I loved them. I always was just that way," England told The Oklahoman in a 2002 interview.
After graduating from Seiling High School in 1957, he joined the Navy with plans to be in the Navy Weather Service. He completed his service after just shy of three years, immediately returning to Oklahoma to attend college.
He met his future wife, Mary Carlisle, during a short stint at Southwestern Oklahoma State University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed his bachelor's degree in mathematics and meteorology in 1965.
England joined Oklahoma City's KTOK radio in 1971 and landed at KWTV the following year.
Meteorologist Gary England's small-town upbringing helped him connect with viewers
England quickly became internationally acclaimed for his innovations in forecasting technology. With the firm Enterprise Electronics, England implemented the world's inaugural commercial Doppler weather radar in 1981, becoming the first person in history to use Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public.
Not just a familiar face on the air, England's was a technological pioneer, developing tools that are now commonplace in severe weather coverage, including the storm "time of arrival" warning system, corner screen warning maps and cellular still picture and video transmission.
"Gary England was one of the pioneers of modern television meteorology. He developed the storm tracker system … and charmed two generations of viewers," Bob Burke, an Oklahoma City historian, wrote in an email to The Oklahoman.
"Perhaps his greatest asset was his ability to keep latchkey children calm in the face of a deadly tornado coming their way," he added.
With a folksy, friendly demeanor and quirky sayings, England was able to connect with Oklahoma viewers, helping them to better understand weather phenomena and take the proper precautions when needed, Burke explained.
The meteorologist became famed for opening his Friday night weather reports by declaring, "It's Friday night in the big town," a tribute to his small-town upbringing.
"Gary was a great husband, father, and one of the friendliest people who I ever met in life. He was truly one of the good guys," Burke said.
Oklahoman gained international acclaim for his innovative approaches to covering severe weather
The author of four books, England made a memorable cameo in the opening moments of the hit 1996 movie "Twister," which was filmed and set in Oklahoma.
He appeared in more than 60 national and international severe weather programs, particularly after the historically devastating EF5 tornado that tore through Moore, Oklahoma on May 3, 1999.
"That tornado almost took me out of the business," England told The Oklahoman in 1999. "It was horrible. I couldn't believe it was happening. … But I love what I do and I'm still here."
During his four-decade broadcasting career, England earned numerous state, regional and national honors, including multiple Emmys, the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Heartland Division, 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.
"He was a true Oklahoma icon whose groundbreaking work in meteorology not only earned him international recognition but, more importantly, provided Oklahomans with vital information needed to stay safe during severe weather," Shannon L. Rich, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, wrote in an email to the Oklahoman.
"His legacy of innovation, dedication to the safety of the general public, and ability to make learning about weather fun will forever be a source of immense pride for our state."
Upon his retirement as News 9 chief meteorologist in 2013, England assumed a new role at KWTV as the vice president for corporate relations and weather development at Griffin Communications. He was named the University of Oklahoma's consulting meteorologist in residence two years later.
England is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter, Molly, and grandchildren Chloe and Cassidy.