Dick Goddard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Goddard
|
|
|---|---|
Goddard at a Humane Society event in Wayne County, Ohio in 2011
|
|
| Born |
Richard Duane Goddard
February 24, 1931 Akron, Ohio, U.S.
|
| Died | August 4, 2020 (aged 89) Florida, U.S.
|
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Green High School |
| Alma mater | Kent State University |
| Occupation | television news weatherman, meteorologist, author |
| Years active | 1955–2016 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Julie Ann Cashel (1972–1996) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1949–1955 |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Richard Duane Goddard (February 24, 1931 – August 4, 2020) was a famous American TV weatherman, author, cartoonist, and animal activist. For 50 years, from 1966 until he retired in 2016, he was the evening meteorologist at WJW-TV in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dick Goddard holds a special Guinness World Record. He had the longest career as a weather forecaster! He worked for over 51 years, beating a Canadian meteorologist named Peter Coade.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Dick Goddard was born in Akron, Ohio, on February 24, 1931. His dad, Vatchel Goddard, was a mechanic. His mom, Doris Goddard, stayed home to take care of the family. His family moved to a small five-acre farm in Greensburg, Ohio (now called Green) in 1941.
As a kid, Dick loved to fish with his dad. He also played many sports in high school. He played football, baseball, and basketball. In his senior year, his basketball team became Class B champions!
Joining the Air Force
After finishing Green High School, Dick Goddard joined the United States Air Force in 1949. He served until 1955. This is where he started his weather career. He took classes on meteorology during his time in the Air Force.
He was sent to places like Greenland and the Korean peninsula. One of his most important jobs was forecasting weather for nuclear weapons tests. These tests were done by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) in the Pacific. While working with the USAEC, he even met Edward Teller, a famous scientist.
College Life
After his military service, Dick Goddard went to Kent State University. He studied drama and broadcasting. He was very good at acting! He played the main character, Curly, in the school's play Oklahoma!.
A Career in Weather Forecasting
While still at Kent State, Dick Goddard started working for the National Weather Service at the Akron-Canton Airport. He worked there for five years.
First TV Weatherman in Cleveland
After graduating from Kent State in 1960, Goddard joined KYW-TV (now WKYC-TV) in Cleveland. He was the very first meteorologist on Cleveland television! His first big weather event to cover was Hurricane Donna.
In 1965, he briefly moved to Philadelphia to work at WRCV-TV. But he didn't like Philadelphia much. So, he returned to Cleveland just a few months later.
Becoming a Cleveland Legend
In 1966, Dick Goddard became the main meteorologist at WJW-TV. He stayed there for the rest of his career. He became one of the most loved TV personalities in the Cleveland area.
Besides weather, Goddard also worked for the NFL's Cleveland Browns. He was the team's official statistician for home games from 1966 to 2011.
He also hosted a game show called Bowling for Dollars for a short time. And he often appeared in funny skits on WJW's popular Big Chuck and Lil' John Show.
In 2011, a road in Cleveland was renamed "Dick Goddard Way." This was to honor his 50 years on Cleveland TV.
In 2016, Dick Goddard announced he would retire from his daily weather duties. He gave his last forecast on November 22, 2016. The weather center at WJW-TV was even renamed the "Dick Goddard Weather Center" in his honor! Even after retiring, he continued to help with animal adoption segments for WJW.
The Woollybear Festival
In 1973, Dick Goddard created the first Woollybear Festival. This is a fun, all-day event for families. It teaches children about weather, has fun activities, and helps animals. Some activities include a caterpillar race, animal costume contests, and music.
Personal Life and Legacy
Dick Goddard loved animals. He even had a pet raccoon named Freddie in 1950. He lived in Medina Township, Ohio. He had one daughter, Kim.
In his later years, Dick Goddard faced some health challenges. He passed away on August 4, 2020, at the age of 89. His ashes were spread under trees, including one at the WJW studios.
Helping Animals: Dick Goddard's Law
Dick Goddard was a strong supporter of animal rights. He spoke out against animal abuse. Because of his efforts, a new law was created in Ohio called "Dick Goddard's Law." This law increases the punishments for people who abuse animals. It was signed into law on June 13, 2016.
Awards and Honors
Dick Goddard received many awards and honors throughout his life:
Meteorology
- American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval
- Guinness Book of World Records - Longest career as a weather forecaster (51 years, 6 days)
Broadcasting
- 2011 Gold Circle Award
- 1992 Silver Circle Award
- Fox 8 News weather desk renamed the "Dick Goddard Weather Center"
Halls of Fame
- Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame Inductee (2001)
- Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee (1989)
- Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee (1994)
State and Local Honors
- South Marginal Road in Cleveland renamed "Dick Goddard Way"
- Ohio House Bill 60 named "Dick Goddard's Law"
- Two dog parks named after him:
- In his hometown of Green, Ohio (Dick Goddard Dog Park)
- In Vermillion, Ohio - home of the annual Woollybear Festival
