Condolences to Gary’s family.
I fondly recall spending time with his wife, first son and his dad (what a character!).
During my brief stint at the deuce, starting back in 1983, Gary impressed me as the consummate professional, having a borderline obsession with weather.
Sure, some of us found humor in his style, but we certainly respected his uncanny ability to predict weather patterns with an unusually high degree of accuracy…something that I do not recall being matched at any local station at that time or since he left KJRH.
His choice of weather words was also innovative and enlightening.
“Snizzle” and “gust-nado” are buzzwords he used and as far as I know, were originated by him.
In good humor (and certainly meant in no disrespect) to his excitement over inclement weather, someone at the station came up with our own description of Gary’s intensity: “Shoregasm”.
Why was Gary such a darn good meteorologist?
I suspect that from what he once told me about predicting weather, he took into account not just computer-generated models, but the topography, man-made structures and other bits of information to piece together a forecast that viewers could rely on.
Many in the agricultural community sought after his forecasts as well.
He KNEW weather like nobodies business.
He was one of a kind…a Tulsa icon.
Rest in peace.
Eric