1. Richard Duane Goddard was an American television meteorologist, author, cartoonist, and animal activist.
24 Facts About Dick Goddard
1. 2.
Dick Goddard holds the Guinness World Record for longest career as a weather forecaster after passing Canadian meteorologist Peter Coade.
3.
Dick Goddard was born on February 24,1931, in Akron, Ohio.
4.
Dick Goddard's father, Vatchel Goddard, was a mechanic for Railway Express Agency.
5.
Dick Goddard's mother, Doris Goddard, was a homemaker.
6.
Dick Goddard would continue to fish until 1973, before giving it up.
7.
Dick Goddard played football, baseball, and basketball in high school.
8.
Dick Goddard went to his first Cleveland Browns game in Akron in August 1948.
9.
Dick Goddard had basic training at Sampson Air Force Base.
10.
Dick Goddard was immediately sent to the Korean peninsula before the outbreak of the Korean War.
11.
Dick Goddard then attended Kent State University, where he majored in drama and broadcasting.
12.
Dick Goddard had the distinction of being the first meteorologist on Cleveland television.
13.
Dick Goddard was one of several employees of KYW-TV who agreed to move to WRCV-TV in Philadelphia in June 1965, after Westinghouse was allowed by the FCC to reverse a station trade with NBC in 1956 based on coercion in order for Westinghouse to retain their NBC affiliations; the KYW calls moved back to Philadelphia.
14.
Dick Goddard held this position from 1966 to 2011, with the exception of a three-year period from 1996 to 1999 when the franchise was suspended as the old Browns franchise moved to Baltimore and Cleveland was given a new team.
15.
Dick Goddard appeared in numerous skits on WJW's popular Big Chuck and Lil' John Show over the years, and did occasional stage work.
16.
Dick Goddard delivered his last forecast on the station on November 22,2016, with the station's weather center renamed for him.
17.
Dick Goddard continued to tape animal advocacy and adoption segments for WJW.
18.
Dick Goddard was in a relationship with Julie Ann Cashel for more than 20 years until her death in 1996.
19.
Dick Goddard married his second wife, Amber, in December 1997 and divorced her in 2004.
20.
Dick Goddard continued with rehab and doctors expected him to make a full recovery.
21.
Dick Goddard's estate was up for auction in early November 2019.
22.
Dick Goddard moved to Florida where he was in a medical facility.
23.
Dick Goddard's daughter revealed in June 2020 that he tested positive for COVID-19.
24.
Dick Goddard's ashes were spread under various trees including one at the WJW studios.