Oklahoma Weather Pioneer Gary England Dies at 85

Gary England, legendary Oklahoma meteorologist and pioneer in weather broadcasting, died at age 85. Born in Seiling, he served in the U.S. Navy and earned degrees in mathematics and meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. England spent 41 years as chief meteorologist for KWTV News 9, where he became internationally recognized for introducing commercial Doppler radar for public tornado warnings in 1981 and developing innovative systems like First Warning and StormTracker. His calm demeanor and dedication to public safety made him a trusted figure during Oklahoma's severe weather events. England received numerous honors, including three Emmys, the Edward R. Murrow Award, induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and a cameo in the film 'Twister.' He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary, their daughter Molly, and two granddaughters.