I don't even know what the subject line of this should be

[dean1]

Re: "WORLD'S GREATEST WEATHERMAN"

All true, but I recall how Harold would pour over the data he did have, and meticulously craft those amazing maps he used to draw. The reason he didn't exclusively rely on new technology was because it was new, and relatively untested. That's less true now, and I think he would changed his mind to some degree once the gizmos had proven themselves. Some of those gadgets are now saving lives, while the jury remains out on others. The problem is not what Harold would have done, but what present day types do without the Harold-style vetting. He said, "Prove it". Many today merely say, "Oooo! That's visual!" But then at heart, he was a scientist - not a performer.

> > > > In 5's defense, the only story every night that
> affects
> > > > everyone is...the weather.
> > > >
> > > > I worked with Harold, and even though he was the best
> > most
> > >
> > > > of us ever saw, he also didn't have the technology
> > > available
> > > > today. Real time satellite imaging, Doppler, and
> > computer
> > > > models were only dreams. Even so, meteorology is the
> > most
> > > > capricious of all the sciences. Ultimately, all anyone
>
> > has
> > >
> > > > to go with is their instinct - whether that applies to
>
> > the
> > >
> > > > chances of precipitation, chasing a wall cloud, or
> > > stacking
> > > > a newscast. And just watch what happens if a bad ice
> > storm
> > >
> > > > or tornado materializes when none was forecast.
> > > >
> > > > That said, sometimes the saddest part is when
> dangerous
> > > > driving conditions don't prevent the anchors and promo
>
> > > > writers from getting to work. Bulletin - it's iced up
> > > > before, and we somehow survived. Armegeddon, it ain't.
>
> > > >
> > > > And for what it's worth, Ellis County was all but
> > > > un-navigable this morning. Cost me an interview
> > > appointment,
> > > > too.
> > > >
> > > > Jody
> > > Good points Jody,but let's remember something about
> Harold
> >
> > > compared to today'sweather guys.1)He was a military
> > > meteorologist and was even part of the weather
> forecasting
> >
> > > team for the D-Day Invasion of Europe. 2) He was a chief
>
> > > meteorologist for Braniff Airlines after the war until
> the
> >
> > > early 1950's. 3)He joined Channel 5 in 1949 and was with
>
> > > them until his death...just shy of 50 years!! 4)He kept
> > > every single weather map since his start at channel
> 5,plus
> > a
> > > weather history log which he used in making forecasts
> and
> > > their characteristics.
> > > He used the simple weather map when others switched long
>
> > > before he joined them. true we understand the weather
> > better
> > > with doppler,and the GOES satellite systems plus more
> and
> > > more computerized weather reporting stations,BUT when it
>
> > > came to a near perfect Forecast it was Harold hands
> down!
> > He
> > > taught Finfrock,and Chessner,and David carries on
> Harold's
> >
> > > tradition. Bill Mack called him "the world's greatest
> > > weatherman"and he was. Harold had modern technology for
> > his
> > > time,but whe nit came down to brass tacks,he stuck to
> what
> >
> > > made him a meteorologist,common sense and know-how.
> > Viewers
> > > would watch ch.8 for the news and at 10:14p they
> switched
> > to
> > > Ch.5 to watch Harold. Even Troy admitted that.
> > > Smokes and whistles are pretty but Texans want their
> > weather
> > > straight,without them.
> > >
> > And a lot of those channel switching viewers at 10:14 made
>
> > the move in pre-remote days when they had to make a trip
> > across the room to rotate the old clicker TV tuners. The
> > changeover took an overt effort, but, as you say, people
> > certainly did it.
> >
> > A viewer once said Harold Taft could wet his finger and
> hold
> > it in the air, then tell you more about the weather than
> all
> > the technological acoutrements ever would.
> >
> Its really a shame we dont have guys like Harold in the
> weather business anymore. His intellect about the weather
> was a true mix of science and instinct. 10% science and 90%
> gut,thats what made him great. Too bad the "television
> meterologist" being pumped out of universities today lack
> the instinct,knowledge and common sense of Harold Taft.
>

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

Re: "WORLD'S GREATEST WEATHERMAN"

> All true, but I recall how Harold would pour over the data
> he did have, and meticulously craft those amazing maps he
> used to draw. The reason he didn't exclusively rely on new
> technology was because it was new, and relatively untested.
> That's less true now, and I think he would changed his mind
> to some degree once the gizmos had proven themselves. Some
> of those gadgets are now saving lives, while the jury
> remains out on others. The problem is not what Harold would
> have done, but what present day types do without the
> Harold-style vetting. He said, "Prove it". Many today merely
> say, "Oooo! That's visual!" But then at heart, he was a
> scientist - not a performer.

VERY TRUE JODY! In one of his last promo's He describe the weather personnel at Ch. 5 and said "each is a weather scientist,which is something I insist on!" He would have modified some of his methods with new technology BUT he would still remain 80% "gut instinct" all the same. He would scowl at "research" brought forth by management and CONsultants.

 

[dean1]

Re: "WORLD'S GREATEST WEATHERMAN"

After all...he eventually did give in regarding barometers and wind gauges. Well...I guess Harold wasn't around that long. Almost, but not quite.

I recall one night when Harold was working a weekend for Ron Godby. Some daring prankster with a penchant for cheating death hid the black broad-tip grocery markers Harold specifically used for denoting temperatures on his maps. You'd a'thought the nuclear football had gone missing. Chip Moody was blamed, but I'm fairly sure it was Roy Eaton.

Wonder what these would go for now on eBay? Just kidding.

Jody
> > All true, but I recall how Harold would pour over the data
>
> > he did have, and meticulously craft those amazing maps he
> > used to draw. The reason he didn't exclusively rely on new
>
> > technology was because it was new, and relatively
> untested.
> > That's less true now, and I think he would changed his
> mind
> > to some degree once the gizmos had proven themselves. Some
>
> > of those gadgets are now saving lives, while the jury
> > remains out on others. The problem is not what Harold
> would
> > have done, but what present day types do without the
> > Harold-style vetting. He said, "Prove it". Many today
> merely
> > say, "Oooo! That's visual!" But then at heart, he was a
> > scientist - not a performer.
>
> VERY TRUE JODY! In one of his last promo's He describe the
> weather personnel at Ch. 5 and said "each is a weather
> scientist,which is something I insist on!" He would have
> modified some of his methods with new technology BUT he
> would still remain 80% "gut instinct" all the same. He would
> scowl at "research" brought forth by management and
> CONsultants.
>

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

Re: "WORLD'S GREATEST WEATHERMAN"

> After all...he eventually did give in regarding barometers
> and wind gauges. Well...I guess Harold wasn't around that
> long. Almost, but not quite.
>
> I recall one night when Harold was working a weekend for Ron
> Godby. Some daring prankster with a penchant for cheating
> death hid the black broad-tip grocery markers Harold
> specifically used for denoting temperatures on his maps.
> You'd a'thought the nuclear football had gone missing. Chip
> Moody was blamed, but I'm fairly sure it was Roy Eaton.
>
> Wonder what these would go for now on eBay? Just kidding.
Sotherby's Auctions in London has "Harold Hair tip markers" priced at $1,205.00 a piece.