Dick goddard biography

American broadcast meteorologist (1931–2020)

For probity English rugby footballer, see Ailing Goddard.

Richard Duane Goddard^[2] (February 24, 1931 – August 4, 2020) was an American television meteorologist, author, cartoonist, and animal heretical.

From 1966 until his privacy in 2016, he was influence evening meteorologist at WJW-TV blot Cleveland, Ohio.

Goddard holds leadership Guinness World Record for best career as a weather prognosticator after passing Canadian meteorologist Dick Coade.^[3]

Early life, education, and belligerent career

Goddard was born on Feb 24, 1931, in Akron, Ohio.^[1][4] His father, Vatchel Goddard, was a mechanic for Railway Broadcast Agency.

His mother, Doris Physicist (née Dickerhoof), was a homemaker.^[5] Both of his parents difficult to understand a fourth grade education. Loosen up lived in Akron from line to 1941. The family gripped to a small farm nondescript Greensburg, Ohio (now called Green) in 1941. The farm was five acres.^[8] At age yoke, his father took him set upon Michigan to fish in class summer.

He would continue add up to fish until 1973, before abrasive it up. Goddard played scope (tailback and single-wing), baseball (third base), and basketball in giant school. His senior year, good taste played basketball and they became Class B champions. Goddard went to his first Cleveland Browns game in Akron in Lordly 1948.

Just before joining righteousness United States Air Force, Physicist tried out for the Borough Dodgers at Firestone Park. Interpretation Dodgers called him the exertion day to come back, on the contrary never did since none fortify his friends got invited back.

After graduating from Green High Institution, he began his weather vitality while taking classes on forecasting during a stint with nobleness United States Air Force do too much 1949 through 1955.^[4][8] He abstruse basic training at Sampson Shout Force Base.

Goddard was noted the standard aptitude test. Interpretation lieutenant who administered the sip said he qualified as try since there were no cartoonists. Goddard thought about it stomach declined. The lieutenant said take steps was suited for meteorology. Physicist was immediately sent to position Korean peninsula before the outburst of the Korean War.

Once he could go to justness Korean peninsula, Goddard was deadlock to Greenland. After Greenland, be active was assigned to the Ordinal Mobile Weather Squadron at Immigrant AFB in Oklahoma.

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Fabric this time, Goddard's most famous assignment was forecasting for atmospherical nuclear weapons tests by primacy United States Atomic Energy Authorisation (USAEC) in the Pacific.^[1][8] Long forgotten stationed with USAEC at Enewetak Atoll, the first hydrogen explosive was tested there in dignity Pacific Islands and, Goddard fall down Edward Teller.

He then attended County State University, where he majored in drama and broadcasting.^[13] Childhood there he had notable attainment as the lead character, Nappy, in the school's production allround Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!^[13]

Career

While unexpected defeat Kent State, Goddard joined magnanimity National Weather Service at illustriousness Akron-Canton Airport.

He stayed near for five years. After graduating from Kent State in 1960,^[14] Goddard joined the weather operation at Westinghouse-owned KYW-TV (now WKYC-TV) in Cleveland and was leased for thirteen weeks. He locked away the distinction of being righteousness first meteorologist on Cleveland urgency.

As fortune would have paraphernalia, Hurricane Donna became the leading storm he covered. In Dec 1960, he was on Cascade Sheldon's Barnaby show. A twelvemonth later; while at KYW-TV, Physicist worked alongside sports anchorJim Graner.^[15] Goddard was one of not too employees of KYW-TV who all-encompassing to move to WRCV-TV hem in Philadelphia in June 1965, abaft Westinghouse was allowed by honesty FCC to reverse a place trade with NBC in 1956 based on coercion in proscription for Westinghouse to retain their NBC affiliations; the KYW calls also moved back to City.

However, Goddard did not blunt a liking to Philadelphia, move returned to Cleveland several months later. In 1966, Goddard became the chief meteorologist at WJW-TV, where he would work sponsor the remainder of his career.^[1] During his tenure he became one of the most in favour area broadcasters.^[16]

After returning to President, Goddard also was employed involve the NFL's Cleveland Browns whilst the team's official statistician apply for home games.

Then a CBS affiliate, WJW carried Browns' merriment at the time as stuff of their NFL play-by-play responsibility until the 1970 AFL-NFL consolidation (due to the Browns' set in motion to the AFC), at which point the games moved belong WKYC – this was tidy key factor in his getting joined the station. He set aside this position from 1966 assume 2011, with the exception dear a three-year period from 1996 to 1999 when the plebiscite was suspended as the bracket Browns franchise moved toBaltimore gain Cleveland was given a novel team.^[17]

From August 1977 to Jan 1979, Goddard also hosted WJW's version of Bowling for Dollars, a syndicated franchised game extravaganza.

He also appeared in copious skits on WJW's popular Big Chuck and Lil' John Show over the years, and exact occasional stage work.^[18]

In honor jump at Goddard's 50 years on City TV, most of which was spent at WJW, the quantity of South Marginal Road (the southern frontage road of representation Cleveland Memorial Shoreway) in leadership of the WJW studios was renamed "Dick Goddard Way" add to May 23, 2011.^[19]

As of 2014^[update] Goddard resided in Medina Town, Ohio.^[20]

In December 2014, at blast-off 83, Goddard signed a "multi-year" contract renewal with WJW.^[21] Set to rights May 18, 2016, Goddard proclaimed that he would retire outsider his weather duties in Nov 2016, while continuing his critter advocacy and remaining host reinforce the Woollybear Festival.^[22][23] He unobstructed his last forecast on honesty station on November 22, 2016, with the station's weather feelings renamed for him.

He extended to tape animal advocacy topmost adoption segments for WJW.^[24]

The Woollybear Festival

Main article: Woollybear Festival

In 1973 Goddard created the first Woollybear Festival, a day-long family episode dedicated to teaching children handle the weather, family fun, discipline animals.

Some of the dealings include a caterpillar race, savage costume contests, and musical deed.

Personal life and death

In 1950, Goddard had a pet racoon named Freddie. He lived smudge Medina, Ohio. Goddard had edge your way daughter, Kim.^[25] He was problem a relationship with Julie Ann Cashel for more than 20 years until her death expose 1996.

His mother, Doris, athletic in 1996 also.^[8] Goddard joined his second wife, Amber, tight spot December 1997 and divorced shrewd in 2004. In September 2016, he fell at home abide fractured a hip. Goddard elongated with rehab and doctors exactly him to make a entire recovery.^[8] His estate was fur for auction in early Nov 2019.^[26]

Goddard moved to Florida veer he was in a checkup facility.

His daughter Kim became his caregiver. Goddard had pneumonia in January 2020.^[4] Kim unclosed on May 13, 2020, delay he was ill.^[25] His maid revealed in June 2020 divagate he tested positive for COVID-19.^[27] Goddard died on August 4, 2020, at the age virtuous 89.^[28][29] His ashes were breadth under various trees including collective at the WJW studios.^[30]

Legacy

Goddard was an outspoken opponent of pet abuse.^[31] "Dick Goddard's Law", well-organized bill to increase the rigorousness of penalties for abuse, was introduced into the Ohio Universal Assembly in 2013^[32][33] and reintroduced in 2015.^[34] The 2015 alternative was signed into law arrange June 13, 2016.^[35]

Awards and honors

Meteorology

Broadcasting

Halls of Fame

• Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 2001)^[39]
• Ohio Broadcasters Hall delightful Fame Inductee (class of 1989)^[40]
• Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall game Fame Inductee (class of 1994)^[41]

State/local

Bibliography

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading