photo from flickr user *CA*
You might have figured out by now that we are fans of Gary England. He uses his folksy charm to bring us the weather in an unparalleled manner, and when angered, his justice — in the form of severe weather — is carried out swiftly, fairly and precisely. We are great admirers of his work.
Which is why it was with great horror that the following story was related to us by one of our loyal readers. She describes it as “a sad story about the heartbreak of an 8 year old girl and a pompous weather man.”
Jump back! Yes, folks, there may be a dark side to Gary England. A side that probably only rears it’s head when provoked by little girls that deserve it, but a dark side nonetheless. We present it in the interest of being fair and balanced.
After the jump, the story of one girl, one weather man, and a relationship that could never be repaired.
When I was in second grade, we had an art contest because “Those Terrible Twisters” was coming to Ada. The prize of winning said contest was to get to meet Gary England and shake his hand, take pictures, etc., which was a nice publicity stunt because he was doing “Those Terrible Twisters” in Ada that night very same night at East Central University.
Now, Gary was a God in my eyes at the time. Seriously, I had read two of his books on meteorology and was set on being just like him when I grew up. So, as you can guess, I worked my ass off on my submission and blew everyone out of the water. Even the 5th graders (big deal for a 2nd grader, seriously) were no match for my pastel masterpiece of a red barn with a ‘nader drawing near. I even hair-sprayed the final product so the colors wouldn’t be compromised whilst being handled.
So the day comes, I’m ready, wearing my best multi-colored jumper, with my hair all puffed and teased up, pulled back in a big, rockin’ twistie. We had the photo op, where the newspaper (that I would ironically work for later in life) came to take pictures of me, posing with my magnum opus. I waited for Gary to show. And waited…and waited…and waited.
So it goes, this was mid March. March 27, 1991, if my memory serves me correctly…and severe weather was brewing across this great state and Gary had to get back to what he did best. Saving lives. I was told that Gary wouldn’t get to come down and shake my hand, but he would make up for it. I was very sad, but for an 8-year-old, very realistic and grounded. I knew that the man was a God and had a duty to perform.
As luck would have it, guess whose lives he saved? Yep. The humble citizens of Greater Ader. We had two tornados touch down, one of which knocked a big chunk out of the brand new Physical and Environmental Sciences Hall at ECU.
Flash forward, two or three weeks later (a lifetime to a kid), I still hear nothing from Gary and I am anxious to get my damn handshake and meet my idol. My parents come up with the idea that I should write Gary a nice letter at Channel 9 and explain that I won the contest, fate, tornado, etc., etc., and that I would still like to meet him. So, I wrote to him, in my best penmanship…asking if perhaps I could come up to the studio, that I thought he was really cool…and told him that I had learned from him that “if a tornado was coming toward you…it was black, if it’s moving away, it’s white” (that sentence has stuck with me for a while *sad face*).
So I mailed it, excited for a response. Would I *actually* be going to CHANNEL 9??! Expectations were high and this kid was ready to go. I waited to hear from him. And waited…and waited…and waited some more. Nothing.
My God had abandoned me. He never even cared about me. All that hype, all my effort, and he couldn’t even write me back and tell me, “maybe later, kid” or “screw off, kid.” It’s been 16 years. And I still haven’t gotten my handshake.
The journey has been long and hard for me. I don’t watch Channel 9…I haven’t since the early 90s. And I make it a point to stay away from tornado coverage. It’s just too hard.
THE END.
We would hope that someday there could be a happy ending to this story; maybe Gary England could get the spurned little girl on the Gentner and let her pretend to be a storm chaser. But perhaps the wounds are too deep to ever heal. Perhaps this is one dustnado that cannot be tamed.
Wow…
This, also, dead legs a sore spot for me.
Ever since I was a young lad, growing up in Moore Oklahoma I was absolutely enthralled with tornadoes and the weather. I had my card board weather station in my back yard, and the pickle jar barometer next to my bed. I always watched Gary England, and couldn’t flaw the man for anything he’s ever done. On easter, 1990 the man, the myth, the legend…Gary England came out to red oak elementary to talk to all of us, and set up a booth to be seen. Being the weather guru, everyone in my 3rd grade class knew I was, (rumors around the oak where that Gary was going to offer me a job) I was sure I’d get him to autograph my pickle jar barometer and maybe ever gab about some meteorology jargon for an hour or two. Easter sunday I grab my jar and mom and dad take me out to meet my idol (I swear to you this is the truth). We arrive just before this helicopter dropped like a million nasty sugar eggs (that we kept in a candy jar for maybe….5 year) on my dads head.
The time had finely come, there he was siting at his throne (fold out chair) and I walked up to have him sign my barometer. My 7 year old hands where shaking and I couldn’t believe we would finely get to meet. I sat there for maybe 10 minuets in front of the table. He just kept looking at me awkwardly and then turning back to some guy he knew and talking about…I swear to you, his effing lawn. My mother asked if he would sign my barometer, and alas he had no marker and told my mom I could go and grab one as he went back to sod conversation. When we got back, Gary was gone. He left, and I cried like a…well….7 year old, for a day.
Oh no…the story doesn’t end there. I’m a forgiving guy, so when I got to high school (now in Edmond) I was in student government and still planning on being the next Gary England. I got to go to this educational rally for school funding or something at the (domeless) capital building. Mr. England happend to be there…as I thought to myself, this is my chance. This is my chance to finally make peace with the last 7 years of hatred, torment and anguish. When he was done with his speech I kindly walked up to the man, and asked him what I could do to be the next Gary England. I swear to you, he just laughed, signed a picket and walked away. I still to this day avoid talk of Gary England…unless it’s Mike Hosty at the Deli on sunday night, while I’m drinking a red cup and laughing/holding back the tears.
I ended up meeting Rick Mitchell (the coolest man in the world) about a year later at Studio 5, and he watched an entire episode of the simpsons with me in the weather lab, and told me he didn’t like Mike Morgan because he looks like dracula, and that Gary England was a pompous ass. So the story goes, after being a meteorology student at OU for two years and a paid storm chaser under the biggest douche bag on the planet (Brady Brus) I left the weather biz to work in business and politics…
…..
I feel better….
The Dark Side of “The Lost Ogle, How I was so distraught, I waited for and read the Gary England with much anticipation, and this is the crap I get.
Don’t give up your day job, what a bunch of crap.
I feel better………
Wow, Bosley. That’s heartbreaking.
Honestly, I know a lot of people who have had terrible run-ins with Gary England. He did “Those Terrible Twisters” at my school during junior high and I remember the students that were involved in prepping the “green room” for him having to meet all kinds of demands about what kind of food had to be in the room and other random little things. He *was* rude to the people who wanted to chat with him or just get a picture. I don’t know. It tarnished what had originally been a glowing opinion of him.
These stories are the polar opposite of what my wife tells about her experiences with Gary England at the “Weather Classroom” where she swears he remembered her as a third grader from a question she asked him as a second grader. Personally, I’ve never met the man, either, but that’s just because I’m afraid that getting that close to awesomeness would make me spontaneously combust.
bosley. my brother…let the wounds heal. we can all work through this together.
Bosley, When you see the clouds going up and the “cap ” bust, do you get your weather weenie all up and bothered like the three horseman of OKC weather do?
GOD is good…
Guys, maybe it’s just me, but I’m getting where I can’t tell the truth from fiction on this website. I’m still wondering if either of the two previous interviews were pure fabrication. I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or wind my watch.
I hope “The Dark Side Of…” becomes a Lost Ogle series.
i can assure you amazed that this story is true.
Gary England was supposed to speak at O-Triple-C a couple of weeks ago, around noon time. He canceled out at mid-morning due to the threat of significant severe weather in the state. There was NO severe weather in the entire state until quite late in the afternoon; the National Weather Service web site said that bad weather wouldn’t happen until then. One would think that Chopper 9 could have flown him back to the studio after his speech at lunchtime, since apparently Gary is the only one who knows how to turn on the radar. There were a lot of disappointed people who arrived on campus, not knowing that he was not showing up. This was prima donna behavior, in my opinion. So now I watch Rick Mitchell on Channel 5. (I would rather not know anything about the weather than watch Mike Morgan and his band of drama queens on Channel 4.)
Amazed, are you referring to the Callahan and Mayor Mick interviews? They are, I assure you, absolutely real.
Is this supposed to help us understand why Stevo is the way she is?
mitchell kicks ass. have you ever seen his hardcore weather blog - it is big time, and he does it in the middle of the nite from his home office (without pay, i’m sure). he seems to get a little too freaked out though, especially with ice storms.
gary is really only worth watching b/c of the drinking game and his senility. he’s a pretty big douche in real life.
and i also agree that Mike Morgan is probably Dracula. I used to think it was just me that never watched that channel, but it seems that they really are the little stepbrother in oklahoma media (the little stepbrother with the club foot who smacks when he eats and doesn’t wear deoderant)
“Bosley, When you see the clouds going up and the “cap ” bust, do you get your weather weenie all up and bothered like the three horseman of OKC weather do?”
Um….duh.
I nicknamed the hook echo, the “reach around”
This story could only be better if it had a plot about drunken table dancing midgets . . .
I’m just sayin’
Amazed,
I think it’s just you.
“I nicknamed the hook echo, the “reach around” ”
So wrong and yet so funny!
Well, I can say that Gary can be very nice. Quite a few years ago he was grand marshal in the Walleye rodeo parade in Canton, Oklahoma. The parade passed in front of my grandma’s house and someone had told him that she was a very big fan. He stopped the parade, jumped out of his car and ran up to my grandma and gave her a big old hug. She was on cloud nine for a long time.
Yeah, I think most people have had positive experiences with Gary England. In fact, this post is the first I’ve heard otherwise. One can only surmise that they deserved it. Meteorologist-slandering bastages.
I am a storm lover, yet I despise of Gary England. After May 3rd, cussing and terrifying children home alone, I refer to him as a “Mad Scientist”. I’ve noticed if there is a possibility of major storm outbreaks, he puts on his Sundays best (Clothes), I boycott Gary England and channel 9 all together because of Gary England.
*hugs stevo*
Is it possible that anyone has the official rules to the Gary England drinking game? I Just want to know if i was following the rules correctly. I wouldn’t want to be sober if the big one comes my way again.
also: reach around = classic comment
The reason NOT to watch channel 9…Gary England or Dean “The Stream” Blevins? I would say Dean by a pain pill.
What will a degree in Meteorology get you?
1) Week-end anchor in Pierre, SD.
2) Loan Service Agent at Wells-Fargo.
3) Pizza delivery driving a 1997 Saturn.
4) What else ya got?
All great men are slandered by the confederacy of dunces. Gary England is such a man. We are just lucky to have such a selfless legend who has devoted his career to saving lives.
For two of my relatives, iforfi, it got them jobs as professors. For another, it got a job with the severe storms lab. Not bad work actually.
Grendel,
Thank you for your feedback.
I know some who have expended much effort which came to naught.
I won’t become a professor because my task is
1/5 meteorology.
I don’t have the ‘discipline’.
However, wx is all controlling.
I do not mean to demean,
but I’ve seen a lot of effort that comes up disappointed.
I hope my snark was not interpretted as a put down.
.
Moved to OKC a few years ago and cannot understand the star treatment of Gary ‘the dolt’ E….he cannot finish a sentence and is not clear at all in his work. It is obvious that he has no grasp on technology, since the underlings have to carry him through all the newscasts. He is a #1 goober who has seen better days (were there some? - but rushes back to the station to get face time if there is a sprinkle. Please retire and let someone that can do the job take over….
Correction:
I Apologize that my snark came across as
a put down.
Where is teh ‘preview’ button?
.
Speaking of the Dark Side-Remember Foreman Scotty at the Circle 4 Ranch?? He was real nice and friendly while the show was on the air, but when they went to a commercial, he told all the kids to SHUT UP and be quiet! I’m scarred forever!
Having worked with Gary, I can honestly say that he is the best
Amway salesman in the history of Oklahoma.
One of these days, I would like to personally thank Mr. England for giving me lilapsophobia.
Anyone who works for OPUBCO should be used to disappointment. Boo hoo.
Great scoop, thelostogle. No really. I mean that.
There’s some current and former OPUBCO’ers who can tell you about Gary England’s writing “abilities.”
And the brain trust that makes up The Oklahoman’s masthead — you know, the esteemed leaders the newsroom doesn’t trust to lead them through one of those maze books for children, let alone put out a decent newspaper — decided it was a better move to:
a) Pretend it didn’t happen..
b) Fire/demote anyone they thought leaked the information.
Never mind ethics. This was about protecting their own hides.
Read more here:
http://www.aan.org/news/two_who_revealed_plagarism_fired__but_not_culprit/Aan/ViewArticle?oid=7383
http://tulsatvmemories.com/gb010102.html
Here’s a big “who cares?” to Ryan. A link to a 2002 story on plagiarism involving a: 1) TV 2) Meteorologist? Maybe time to get over that one…
Yeah, trust between your publication and readership doesn’t matter. Neither does ethics. Right? It’s a big “who cares” …right?
HA! HA! HA! Gary England came to my elementary, middle, and high school and never canceled on us once. He’s just not that into you.
I also got Linda Cavanaugh, The McCain Brothers, and Patti Suarez autographs all before the 5th grade. I’ll sell them if the price is right.
Yeah Gary England is a big dousche at restaurants
hes a prick about having his food order a certain way, and after you “correct” it he still stiffs you on the TIP!
Also i heard from one of my buddies that when she was opening her door for her friend, Gary just walk by and said thanks. WTF!!
The gal next to me just said that Gary’s ok but his wife is the nasTAY.
Had Gary come to our school to do a presentation to the kids and just before he entered the stage he told his producer that “I need to get my f—ing face on.” Lost any respect for the man at that time.
WOW! Mike Morgan does look like Dracula.
Found the drinking game rules! Have fun! Tornado season is almost over!
Gary England Drinking Game
Pregame
1. Everyone selects a storm chaser other than Val Castor. Every time Gary talks to your storm chaser, you take one drink. Take two drinks every time we see footage from your storm chaser. Take four drinks if your storm chaser says “tornado on the ground.”
2. Everyone selects a county other than Pottawatomie County. Every time Gary mentions your county, you take one drink. Take two drinks every time we see footage from your county. Take four drinks if a tornado touches down in your county.
One drink
1. Take one drink every time Gary says the following:
“Hook echo” | “Updraft” | “Metro” | “Doppler radar” | “Wall cloud” | “Ranger 9″ | “Underground” | “Mobile home”
2. When Gary gives a list of counties, take one drink for every county in the list.
3. Take one drink every time Gary interrupts a program. Take one drink if Gary says “You’re not missing any of [program name].” Take one drink when Gary says “We’ll keep you advised.”
Two drinks
1. Take two drinks every time Gary says the following:
“Baseball-sized hail” | “Waterloo Road” | “Pottawatomie County” | “Deer Creek High School”
2. Take two drinks every time Gary mentions the following towns:
Altus | Burns Flat | Dill City | Gotebo | Hydro | Lookeba | Meeker | Mulhall | Oktaha | Olustee | Shattuck | Slaughterville | Tryon | Vici | Waukomis | Wayne (or Payne) | Weleetka | Wetumkah
3. Take two drinks every time Gary talks to Val Castor.
Three drinks
1. Take three drinks if we see footage from Val Castor.
2. Take three drinks if we see footage from Pottawatomie County.
3. Take three drinks if Gary mentions the following:
“Immediate tornado precautions” | “National Weather Service” | “Mesocyclone” | “Portable Radio” | “Take shelter” | “Tornado warning in effect until …”
Four drinks
1. Take four drinks if Ranger 9 must land to refuel.
2. Take four drinks if Gary issues his own tornado warning, not recognized by the NWS or says the following:
“Will someone please answer that phone?” | “Do you see power flashes?”
3. Take four drinks if a shirt-less tornado victim is interviewed.
Finish your drink
1. Finish your drink if someone uses the word tornado as a verb or if Gary mentions the nearest cross streets to you.
2. If Gary says “We’ve lost Val,” pour a little out for your homies and finish your drink.
Gary is the nicest guy I ever hired.