Dick Goddard

Dick Goddard
Born	February 24, 1931 (1931-02-24) (age 80)[1] Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	television news weatherman, meteorologist, author

Richard D. "Dick" Goddard (born February 24, 1931) is an American television meteorologist, author, cartoonist, and animal activist. For over four decades, he has served as the evening meteorologist at WJW (TV), the Fox Broadcasting Company-affiliated television station in Cleveland, Ohio. His lengthy career in television broadcasting, emcee hosting of special public events, and affection for animals has made him a popular figure in Northeast Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

Early career years

After graduating from Green High School^[2] in what is now Green, Ohio in 1949,^[3] Goddard began his weather career while taking classes on meteorology during a stint with the United States Air Force from 1949 through the early 1950s.^[1] During this time, Goddard's most notable assignment was forecasting for atmospheric nuclear weapons tests by the United States Atomic Energy Commission in the Pacific.^[1]

He then attended Kent State University, where he majored in drama and broadcasting. While there he had notable success as the lead character, Curly, in the school's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!.

After graduating from Kent State in 1960,^[4] he joined the weather team at Westinghouse Broadcasting-owned KYW-TV (now WKYC-TV) in Cleveland a year later; while at KYW-TV, Goddard worked alongside sports anchor Jim Graner.^[5] Goddard was one of several employees of KYW-TV who agreed to move to Philadelphia in June 1965, after Westinghouse was ordered by the FCC to move its operations there in a reversal of its 1956 station trade with NBC. However, Goddard did not take a liking to Philadelphia, and returned to Cleveland several months later. In 1966, Goddard became the chief meteorologist at WJW-TV, where he has worked ever since.^[1]

After returning to Cleveland, Goddard also took a job with the NFL's Cleveland Browns as the team's official statistician for home games. Then a CBS affiliate, WJW-TV carried Browns games at the time as part of their NFL play-by-play contract until the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, at which point the games moved to WKYC - this was a key factor in his having joined the station. He has also held this position since 1966, with the exception of a three-year period from 1996-1999 following the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.

Goddard also is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying a share of the team when they became an NBA franchise in 1970 for $400.

From August 1977 to January 1979, Goddard also hosted WJW-TV's version of Bowling for Dollars, a syndicated franchised game show.^[6]

The Woollybear Festival

Main article: Woollybear Festival

In 1973 Goddard created the first Woollybear Festival, a day-long family event dedicated to teaching children about the weather, stilt walking and animals.^{[citation needed]} Some of the events include a caterpillar race, animal costume contests, musical performances and more.

Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show era

Goddard’s classic broadcaster voice, lengthy tenure in Cleveland media, and involvement with WJW-TV's long-running late night comedy sketch program, the Big Chuck and Lil' John Show, have made him somewhat of a cult figure.^{[citation needed]}

On the Big Chuck and Lil' John Show, their old beginning had them running from a King Kong-like gorilla. While they ran, Goddard would be walking through the hallway with his weather models from the National Weather Service. Big Chuck and Lil' John would bump into Goddard, and he would fall to the floor with his papers flying. Goddard appears in some of Big Chuck and Lil' John's skits and routines.

Awards, honors, accomplishments

Goddard is also the author and illustrator of two books, Dick Goddard’s Weather Guide for Northeast Ohio and Dick Goddard’s Almanac for Northeast Ohio. He is one of the longest active members of the American Meteorological Society, with an AMS seal of 45.^[7] Goddard has done some local stage work.

On May 23, 2011, the portion of South Marginal Road in front of the WJW-TV studios became Dick Goddard Way.^[8]

When asked his age, Goddard gives it in Celsius.^[9]

Bibliography

• Goddard, Dick (2011). Six Inches of Partly Cloudy: Cleveland's Legendary TV Meteorologist Takes on Everything–and More. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 9781598510669.  (Sample chapter provided by publisher)
• Goddard, Dick (2005). Dick Goddard's Almanac for Northeast Ohio. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 1886228922.  (Also published 2002–2004)
• Goddard, Dick (1998). Dick Goddard's Weather Guide for Northeast Ohio. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 1886228124. 

Further reading

• Schodowski, Chuck (2008). Big Chuck: My Favorite Stories from 47 Years on Cleveland TV. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 9781598510522. 

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Dawidziak, Mark (2011-02-23). "WJW Channel 8 weatherman Dick Goddard turns 80 Feb. 24, celebrates 50 years on TV in May". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2011/02/wjw_channel_8_weatherman_dick_goddard_turns_80_feb_25_celebrates_50_years_on_tv_in_may.html. Retrieved 2011-02-26. 
2. ^ Dick Goddard. Fox8.com. Retrieved on 2009-08-13.
3. ^ WJW-TV, "Fox 8 News at 10" broadcast, 2009-08-12 (personal mention of 60th Reunion).
4. ^ Katona, Ashley (Winter 2011). "Dick Goddard, '60". Kent State Magazine 10 (1): 28. http://www.glpublishing.com/digitaleditions/KENT111/pageflip.html. 
5. ^ "History of WKYC-TV 1948-2010" (PDF). WKYC.com. WKYC-TV, Inc. 2010. http://www.wkyc.com/company/about_us/history_of_wkyc.pdf. Retrieved August 25, 2010. "1961: ... The news team consisted of anchors Carl Stern and Bud Dancy, weathercaster Dick Goddard and sports talent Jim Graner." 
6. ^ WJKW-TV8 - Cleveland - "Bowling for Dollars" Promo - 1978 - AOL Video
7. ^ "List of AMS TV Seal holders". http://www.ametsoc.org/memdir/seallist/get_listoftv.cfm. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
8. ^ Buckingham, Lindsay (2011-05-23). "S. Marginal Road Dedicated to FOX 8's Own Dick Goddard". WJW-TV. http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-dick-goddard-way-dedication-ceremony-txt,0,3222108.story. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
9. ^ Example: Crump, Sarah (2009-05-04). "Dick Goddard is most sunny when it's 70: My Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/mycleveland/index.ssf/2009/05/dick_goddard_is_most_sunny_whe.html. Retrieved 2009-05-05. 

• "About Dick Goddard" Gray & Company website.

Persondata
Name	Goddard, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1931-02-24
Place of birth	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death