We have lost a true man. I was a senior Meteorology Student at OU when I met Rick. Rick was a lead forecaster at Weatherscan International owned by Ross Dixon. After 3.5 years at OU I thought I knew everything about weather. Rick knew differently and proceeded to teach me the real world of weather forecasting. I learned more in 6 months under Rick than I had learned at OU. I got thrown out of Rex Inman's Dynamics II class after stating such fact. My fondest memory of Rick occurred when Weatherscan secured a contract to provide on-air Meteorologists to KOKH after the sale from the school board. We had to go to Norman for an audition. Rick and I drove down together and he came up with a brilliant idea. We both told Ross we did not want to work in television because, with all due respects Mr. Dixon, television is for pin heads. Rick wanted to go to the JOCK STRAP and drink beer. The logic behind this was, if we get polluted they couldn't possibly want us for TV. Boy were we wrong!!! The News Director like my audition so much I was asked to do KOKH and Rick would become one of the meteorologists for KLTE radio. 6 months later KOKH would drop its News and Weather and I would have to uproot my lovely bride of 1 month and move to my first real TV job in Paducah,KY., truly the armpit of the world. Rick's suggestion sent me on a 24 year career in television that included 5 other cities. I would playfully remind Rick everytime I called him and sent him a Christmas card.
Sadly, those phone calls are now pleasant memories of a friend I will miss like a brother. But only in Oklahoma could a person from New York City become great friends with a Cajun from New Orleans and both understand each other!
Rick, you are already missed but now the Good Lord has the best Meteorologist in the world at His disposal for the most comprehensive flight brief for those long business trips.
Your friend always
Paul Bouchereau
