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Gary England, Oklahoma’s Master Meteorologist, Passes Away at 85
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Longtime chief meteorologist leaves behind a legacy of pioneering weather technology and dedicated service to Oklahomans.
The meteorological community and the state of Oklahoma are mourning the loss of Gary England, who passed away at the age of 85. The news was announced by his family, who stated, “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Gary England passed this evening. Gary passed peacefully on the evening of June 10th, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 63 years, Mary, and his loving daughter, Molly. Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed.”
For 41 years, Gary England dedicated his career to keeping Oklahomans informed about the weather. Upon his retirement in 2013, he earned the titles “Oklahoma’s Master Meteorologist” from NPR and “The Weather God of Oklahoma City” from The New York Times.
Pioneering Weather Technology
Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms.
Gary England was renowned for his innovative approach to weather forecasting. In 1981, he made history by implementing Enterprise Electronics Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public. This was the first time such technology was used in this way.
furthering his impact, “In 1990, England developed First Warning, an automated severe weather warning system that provided instant weather warning maps in the corner of the television screen. One year later, he created StormTracker, a system that projected the path of storms and the time of their arrival, a program that is now used nationwide.”
Legacy and Achievements
Beyond his technological contributions, Gary England authored four books and was the subject of another. He also made appearances in over 50 national and international severe weather programs, including a role in the Steven Spielberg movie “Twister.”
In 2006, England was a keynote speaker at the dedication of the new national Weather Center in Norman, OK. As part of the Oklahoma Centennial party in 2007, he was immortalized with a bust as one of Oklahoma’s ‘100 Heroes and Outlaws.’ He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2013.
