Dick Goddard
Encyclopedia
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.
in what is now Green, Ohio
in 1949, 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. 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.
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, 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
. 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.
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.
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.
, with an AMS seal of 45. 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.
When asked his age, Goddard gives it in Celsius.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, and animal activist. For over four decades, he has served as the evening meteorologist at WJW (TV), the Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
-affiliated television station in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. 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.
Early career years
After graduating from Green High SchoolGreen High School (Green, Ohio)
Green High School is a public high school in Green, Ohio, just south of Akron, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Green Local Schools district.The school colors are black and orange. The mascot is the bulldog...
in what is now Green, Ohio
Green, Ohio
Green is a suburban city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,699 at the 2010 census. It is located almost exactly midway between the cities of Akron and Canton, although it is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in 1949, Goddard began his weather career while taking classes on meteorology during a stint with the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1949 through the early 1950s. During this time, Goddard's most notable assignment was forecasting for atmospheric nuclear weapons tests by the United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
in the Pacific.
He then attended Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, 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
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
.
After graduating from Kent State in 1960, he joined the weather team at Westinghouse Broadcasting
Westinghouse Broadcasting
The Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
-owned KYW-TV (now WKYC-TV) in Cleveland a year later; while at KYW-TV, Goddard worked alongside sports anchor
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Jim Graner
Jim Graner
James R. "Jim" Graner was the weeknight sports anchor for Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC TV-3 beginning in 1957, and also the color commentator for the Cleveland Browns radio network — twice — most notably alongside Cleveland sportscaster Gib Shanley...
. 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
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to move its operations there in a reversal of its 1956 station trade with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. 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.
After returning to Cleveland, Goddard also took a job with the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as the team's official statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
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
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
, 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
Cleveland Browns relocation controversy
The Cleveland Browns relocation controversy was the decision by then Browns owner Art Modell to move the National Football League team from its longtime home of Cleveland, Ohio to Baltimore, Maryland for the 1996 NFL season...
.
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
Bowling for Dollars
Bowling for Dollars is a television game show on which people could play the sport of bowling to win cash and sometimes prizes based on how well they bowled....
, a syndicated franchised game show.
The 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. 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.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 SocietyAmerican Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
, with an AMS seal of 45. 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.
When asked his age, Goddard gives it in Celsius.