The Meteorologist Who Made Weather Personal: Gary England Dies at 85
Gary England, the legendary Oklahoma meteorologist who brought calm in the eye of the storm for over four decades, has died at age 85. Revered for his pioneering approach to severe weather forecasting, England wasn't just a weatherman—he was a lifeline for a state defined by its tornadoes.
Born in Seiling, Oklahoma, England developed a fascination with storms as a teen. They terrified him, but they also drew him in, according to The Oklahoman. After serving in the Navy and earning a degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma, England began his career in broadcasting in 1971 at KTOK radio. A year later, he joined KWTV, where he'd remain a fixture for 41 years.
England helped revolutionize the way weather was reported. In 1981, a true pioneer, he became the first meteorologist in the world to use commercial Doppler radar to issue warnings to the public. His innovations, like storm arrival times, corner-screen maps, and mobile video transmission, are now industry standards.
More than the technology, it was his steady voice and plainspoken delivery that endeared him to Oklahomans. He made complex weather science accessible, often peppering forecasts with colloquialisms and familiar turns of phrase. 'It's Friday night in the big town,' he'd say—words that became both comfort and signature.
England's legacy is woven into the fabric of Oklahoma's identity. He earned national accolades, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Emmys, and an honorary doctorate from OU. He also made a cameo in Twister and served as the keynote speaker for the opening of the National Weather Center in Norman.
Through it all, England's goal remained unchanged: keep people safe. Whether it was a flash flood or an EF5 tornado, Oklahomans trusted him to guide them through it.
He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Molly, and grandchildren Chloe and Cassidy, but his legacy lives on in every storm tracked and every warning he helped inspire.The Meteorologist Who Made Weather Personal: Gary England Dies at 85 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- 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.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Gary England, Award-Winning and Innovative Oklahoma Meteorologist, Dies at 85: ‘Deeply and Forever Missed'
Gary England, who spent 41 years as a meteorologist at CBS affiliate KTVW, has died at age 85, according to the station England is best known for helping create multiple weather warning systems for television and won numerous awards for his innovative work "Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms," his family said in a statementGary England, a beloved meteorologist and innovator in the industry, has died at the age of 85. England spent 41 years informing viewers about Oklahoma's often volatile weather at CBS affiliate KWTV, and was a pioneer in weather technology, according to the news station. In a statement shared by KWTV, England's family said he '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." They added, 'Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed." England was born on Oct. 3, 1939, and hailed from Selling, Okla., according to the Selling Chamber of Commerce. He began to study weather while serving in the U.S. Navy at age 17, shortly after graduating high school. In 1965, England received a degree in mathematics and meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. He then spent four years as a consulting meteorologist and oceanographer with A.H. Glenn and Associates in New Orleans before returning to Oklahoma, where he began his broadcasting career. England began working for KTVW in 1972. In 1981, England became the first on-air meteorologist to use a commercial Doppler weather radar to warn viewers of possible tornadoes, according to the news station. In the early 1990s, England helped develop First Warning, which provided viewers with instant weather warnings on their television screens, and Storm Tracker, which is now used nationwide to provide viewers with storms' projected paths and timing. In addition to his innovations, England also made a cameo in the 1996 film Twister and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2013. He also wrote four books and received many awards, including three Emmys and the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best in the Nation in the category of breaking news and weather, according to KTVW. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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, per the Selling Chamber of Commerce. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford paid tribute to England and his work in a statement shared on X after the meteorologist's death was announced. "Cindy and I are saddened by the passing of Gary England—a U.S. Navy veteran and pioneering force in television meteorology,' the senator wrote. Lankford added, 'His innovations in advanced warnings undoubtedly saved countless lives across the country. Generations of Oklahomans remember well his winsome, 'Let's check it out' and his celebration each week of 'Friday night in the big town.' He was our early warning and our calm in the storm.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Weather legend Gary England dies at 85: Social media floods with tributes to mentor, icon
Following the news of Gary England's death on Tuesday, June 10, Oklahomans around the state shared their memories of working with and watching the trailblazing meteorologist. The Seiling, Oklahoma, native started at the Oklahoma City CBS-affiliated TV station in 1972 and retired in 2013 after 41 years of service. When he stepped away from the green screens in the News 9 Weather Center, England was lauded by NPR as "Oklahoma's Master Meteorologist," while The New York Times hailed him as "The Weather God of Oklahoma City." Since the announcement during Tuesday night's broadcast, several have taken the time to share their memories of the broadcaster. Senator James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, shared a statement with the media Wednesday morning: 'Cindy and I are saddened by the passing of Gary England—a U.S. Navy veteran and pioneering force in television meteorology. Born and raised in Seiling, Oklahoma, Gary earned international recognition for his groundbreaking innovations in weather technology, including implementing the world's first commercial Doppler weather radar in 1981 and becoming the first person in history to use it to issue direct warnings to the public. His innovations in advanced warnings undoubtedly saved countless lives across the country. Generations of Oklahomans remember well his winsome, 'Let's check it out' and his celebration each week of 'Friday night in the big town.' He was our early warning and our calm in the storm. Cindy and I are praying for his wife, Mary, of 63 years, and all who loved him as they grieve his loss.' Other members of Oklahoma's broadcasting community also chimed in with their favorite memories and the inspiration that England left upon them. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gary England dies at 85: Meteorologists, Oklahomans share memories
