He was on the air for 37 years. The most well-known of his books is Weathering Life. His eyes were focused on the sky in wonder as he grew up in rural South Alabama. James referenced his friend, Rick Smith (a Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Norman, Oklahoma), who has done a lot of work to improve mental health in meteorology. In fact, when I asked him what was the last thing he got really excited abouthe said that he honestly just loves coming to work every day. Throughout the book, Spann details his early life in Alabama, how he and his mother moved to Tuscaloosa after his father left and how working at Tuscaloosa's WTBC in1973 gave Spann his first experience in broadcasting. I think for anyone, a motivating factor is to overcome the naysayers.". Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Lets hope we still get a few more years of Saban on college sidelines before he starts chasing hurricanes with his friend Spann! There is massive importance to integrity. At his church, Greenville Baptist Church, he recalls some of the older men talking openly about their contempt for black people. In the early 90s, he earned his certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University through the schools distance learning program. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "I could live my life over thousands of times, and this would never happen again. Tags: 'Vietnam' Asia Retire To Hanoi. View our online Press Pack. During the 1973 Brent tornado and the 1974 Superoutbreak, he assisted in the transmission of information. Latest severe weather updates from ABC 3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann and The Weather Authority:1:46 a.m.The risk of severe weather has ended for Jefferson County.1:39 a.m.Heavier storms are . "But whenever he was there, I felt loved and accepted and I felt secure. Moreover, in Demopolis, Alabama, he co-owned a tiny AM-FM radio station with Dave Baird. Get this The Vancouver Sun page for free from Friday, June 6, 2003 ih- . "My wife is OK, but the tornado came right through there and its not good, its bad. In October 1989, he returned to television, this time as the main weatherman on Birminghams WBRC-TV. Did we use terms that people didn't understand?". James Spann has covered severe weather in Alabama since the 1970s. The duo tied the knot on June 6, 1981. However, just because the state might not experience a massive outbreak as it did on that day, all it takes is one tornado. He writes a daily weather discussion for his weather blog, and produces a "Weather Xtreme" video (sometimes a "live" video, depending on the weather situation unfolding) to post with that as well. "One of my secrets is that I'm not good at anything I do -- I'm really not. Board Chairman Richard Montgomery recommended a parole review hearing again in two years. He also expects and wants you to LOVE weather and what you dowhich makes it easy to work hard. He joined ABC 33/40 one month after the station signed on the air in the fall of 1996. Throughout any given day, Spann, the longtime meteorologist for ABC 33/40, could be communicating with more than 1 million of his combined followers on Twitter and Facebook, preparing weather reports for upcoming broadcasts, co-hosting his weekly "WeatherBrains" podcast or driving to the one or two schools per day he still visits. Spann does not think too much about his legacy. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan He wanted to write a book for kids who loved science and weather, but also a book that addressed fear by giving valuable information to overcome that fear and not scare them. What to expect; First visit; FAQ; Our Practice; Why? This is very unusual with an EF3 tornado, and many homes in their neighborhood lost their second floors. He usually wraps up these activities around 8:00 AM, and then heads off to talk to a school. Leave a Reflection. James Max Spann Jr. is James Spann's real name. Dad served APD 32 years before retiring. Spann today paid tribute to Burns on Twitter. Chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 since 1996 who received the two highest awards in the nation for a broadcast meteorologist, Broadcaster of the Year by the National Weather Association and the Award for Broadcast Meteorology by the American Meteorological Society. Thirty years after he last saw his father, Spann started doing some research and found out that he was living in Hazel Green, just north of Huntsville. As he mentioned while discussing preparedness, the current broadcast model is becoming dated, but reinvention is coming and will continue to make our field better. Little information is available on his wife, but the pair got hitched on June 6, 1981, and have been married for 40 years. He worked for a variety of radio stations as a news anchor and weatherman such as WSFA /Channel . He is currently the chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40. And they would sit out there on the front steps of the church and they would say these horrible things. He also is a firm believer in reaching everyone in every demographic, and these days that means not relying on solely television broadcasts to get the forecast out. Connect With James Spann James has served as the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40 for 25 years, and can be seen weeknights at 4, 5, 6, and 10 o'clock. James is a published author in addition to his journalistic work. I've done network TV. Spann says he has fond memories of a father who went fishing with him and who took him to see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. My life was there.". His wife, Karen, was present in the residence when it got hit - but luckily made it to safety in their in-home shelter. Bill Naugher, CEO of Crest Publishers, said the book shows a part of Spann not many people get to see. Burns hosted the Country Boy Eddie Show on WBRC from 1957 to 1993. Every time there is a severe weather threat in Alabama, people ask James' least favorite question- "Will it be like April 27, 2011?" . According to the NWA, James was selected to receive the award "For his passionate dedication to serving the Central Alabama community with critical weather information for over thirty years, especially during the deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.". There is so much damage everywhere. For James and his family, that day was March 25, 2021. "I needed it, and I thought he needed it. He believes that getting to kids while they're young his huge, but he can't talk to every child across the worldso he recently commissioned his wife and son (whom he credits with being much more creative than him) to write a children's book, "Benny and Chipper: PreparedNot Scared." He was on the air for 37 years. He currently serves as a weather forecaster at WBMA-LD ( ABC 33/40) based in Birmingham, Alabama. His first childhood memories, though, are from his early years growing up in Greenville, in Butler County. He has met many of us as he crisscrosses the state visiting school children and speaking with civic groups to teach us about weather and share stories regarding his career. Because James was dissatisfied with Foxs diet of reality shows and other programming, he joined some of his former WBRC coworkers at ABC 33/40, which was founded by merging Annistons WCFT and WJSU-TV with a new low-power repeater in Birmingham. He earned his first ham radio license at the age of 14, and holds an extra class license. "These are my people," he likes to say. Obituary. Nothing has ever topped that. James Spann is an American Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and a podcast host based in Birmingham, Alabama, He presently works for WBMA-LD, ABC 33/40, Birminghams ABC affiliate. He went on to say that it's not just a testament of what he and his team do, but of the people across the state - hearing the message, responding, having a plan in place, and implementing the plan. The legacy continues. Call 0915 010 817. ", BBC1's live FA Cup coverage hit by porn noises from mobile hidden by prankster, Three major energy suppliers paying you to turn off appliances tonight, Major bar chain to close on Mondays and Tuesdays due to rocketing energy bills, Gran's tribute to girl, 4, & mum killed after being hit by racing Audi', News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The presenter had been warning viewers about severe weather conditions in Alabama on WBMA-LD. Bill Castle shot this video in 2013. Smith Lumber Company in nearby Chapman. Spann also discovered he had a half-brother, who was about 10 years younger than him, that he had never previously known. THIS AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny across South Alabama this afternoon, where temperatures are now in the mid 70s. He has been a licensed Ham Radio operator since he was 14 and fascinated with weather all his life. He was born James Max Spann Jr. on June 6, 1956, in Huntsville, Alabama, in the United States of America. His mother, Carolyn, worked as a secretary at Greenville High School, and his father sold lumber for the W.T. Here's why. The call letters, WBBR, stood for Black Bear Radio, in honor of the school mascot. Additionally, as of 2020, Spann's estimated net worth is $2 million. He praised the social scientists he worked with and the value they've added to the team over the years. Hendersonville Theatre is proud to launch its 2023 Hometown Sound Music Series with Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues! James earned the NWA as well as AMS seals of approval upon his graduation. "Even as a kid, I would just stare out the window all the time," he says. But there are some things you might not know about James Spann. Dec 10, 2017 - Explore Tamara Summers's board "James spann ", followed by 717 people on Pinterest. Spann asked Saban if he ever gets tired of getting asked . He actually published a book, "All You Can Do Is Pray" on the ten year anniversary in order to preserve the day, including everything from the insides of working in a weather office to the untold stories of the victims. Spann receives an estimated annual salary ranging from $45,000 to $112,500. From being raised by a single mother in Tuscaloosa to tales from his career in broadcast news, the book puts on paper many of the stories he has told while traveling around Alabama. James was thereafter transferred to Tuscaloosa High School, where he received his diploma in 1974. But nothing will ever beat the excitement of that night on that 250-watt radio station. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). Georgia rallies, survives on missed field goal to beat Ohio State, reach national title game. James Spann | January 11, 2023 @ 2:56 pm. Along the way he has worked for WCFT in Tuscaloosa, WSFA in Montgomery, KDFW in . James feels fortunate that his kids are now grown, and social media wasn't as prominent when they were growing up as it is now, so he was able to spend quality time with them. James Spann wedded to surge instructor, Karen Spann on June 6, 1981. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Abilene Police Department, Texas. Throughout any given day, Spann, the longtime meteorologist for ABC 33/40, could be communicating with more than 1 million of his combined followers on Twitter and F Spann has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $5 million as of 2023. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. They stood in the front yard and talked. He is also always (24 hours a day/7 days a week) monitoring his social media, trying to monitor people's questions across all social platforms, which seems to be me like a full-time job in itself! That day was a "generational event" as he called it, and noted that there are not many days like that in your career. Brenda Ladun, a 33/40 anchor who has known Spann for more than 20 years, considers the longtime meteorologist like the brother she never had. He gives the TV weather broadcast from his home studio, followed by a radio broadcast that is aired on 24 commercial radio stations across the country. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. And she got us into this house right here. $7.50 delivery Jan 19 - 24 . "My mama would dress me up, and she would sit me in a little chair over by the front door. After retiring from the NWS, J.B. joined James at his private weather company and worked there until he passed away seven years ago, though he remains in spirit. A weatherman without a station, he returned to radio when he and a couple of old friends -- Tom Stipe, the longtime producer of the Alabama Crimson Tide Sports Network, and Dave Baird, whom Spann had known since their days together at WTBC in Tuscaloosa -- bought an AM-FM combination in Demopolis, in Marengo County. "I'm telling you, I couldn't be prouder of what Greenville has become. She was the first woman named to a nightly news broadcast in Birmingham. I became a TV weather guy in the summer of 1978, and I'd just turned 22.". Fortunately he and his wife have a severe weather plan in place, and she was in their safe place when it struck. Despite the warnings Spann and others gave leading up to the tornadoes,more than238 people across Alabama died. Email us: [email protected]. James is married to Karen Spann. The couple share two children, James and Ryan. James Spann visiting Haleyville Elementary in March 2020. However, it's clear that day had lifetime impacts on James. "It's been a long journey. Everything he wasn't very motivated to be, I'm the opposite. All Filters. Not long after his father left them, Spann and his mother moved to her family's home in Ashville, in St. Clair County, but they came back to Greenville a year later. by James Spann weather tornados storms hurricanes snow ice radar | Jan 1, 2016. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Coming of age in South Alabama during the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s was also confusing to Spann, who didn't understand why black kids his age couldn't go to school with him, couldn't go swimming with him, couldn't even be seen hanging out with him. Home; Rentals. Dedicated. ", James Spann is pictured here in this childhood photo with his mother, Carolyn Spann, who raised him after his father left when James was 7 years old. He has been a television weather . In addition, he celebrates his birthday on the 6th of January every year, and his zodiac sign is Gemini. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Scouting Report: Sean Strickland. James was one of the first weather anchors in the nation to earn "Certified Broadcast Meteorologist" status from the American Meteorological Society. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, James Spann, 64, was covering the tornadoes when his house was hit by one, James Spann shared this image of his backyard but assured viewers his house 'was OK', Messages of admiration poured in as Spann returned to his reporting duties despite the shocking news he had just received, James Spann expressed his thanks to well-wishers and encouraged others to help vulnerable locals, James and his wife Karen built an in-home shelter in their Birmingham home, At least five people are dead and multiple casualties have been reported, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). James is related to James Spamm and Paula Denise Spann as well as 3 additional people. 223,657 talking about this. There was zero loss of life and no serious injuries, despite some significant tornadoes, and James couldn't say enough about how happy that made him. ", Meteorologist James Spann looks out his car window at the house in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he and his mother lived from his middle school years until he finished college at the University of Alabama. During his weather report on the afternoon of Thursday, March 25, James Spann, 64, learned that his own home had been struck. "I worked 6 (p.m.) to midnight, and my first song was 'Jessica' by the Allman Brothers. "While we lost many trees, the home is intact and we will be not have to 'rebuild'(sic).". In 1986, however, he resigned from his position and relocated to Alabama. James volunteered as an amateur radio operator while attending Tuscaloosa High School. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Back in 1994, Spann admitted to shooting 17-year-old Karie Ann Newberry in the head, dumping her body in a wooded area in Dickson and then setting her body on fire. In his spare time, James enjoys tennis and amateur radio. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. ", Spann writes about those early years -- about the father who left him, the mother who raised him, and the historic storms that shaped his career as a meteorologist -- in his new autobiography, Weathering Life., "Its for weather people, and it's also just for anybody who's interested in (knowing) what it's like coming out of South Alabama in the 1960s from a broken home," Spann says of the book. James Spann was born in Alabama on June 6, 1956. James Spann's coverage of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. He is a past winner . "But I said what I needed to say. We lost a lot of trees. Officer James Jenkins Spann. But I will work harder than anybody else to accomplish a goal. James is an AMS certified meteorologist based in Birmingham at ABC 33/40. James Spann is the chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala. His wife took shelter in their home as a tornado bore down on March 25. "So, I think there's no doubt there was some type of plan to take something bad, that family situation, and turn it into something good. Mrs. Spann died on Dec. 9, 2018, at 86. James E. Spann ORANGEBURG -- Mr. James E. Spann, 80, of 1386 Bellville Road, Orangeburg, passed Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, at the Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg. Spann has been working in the journalism field since 1978. A huge tree just missed our house! The blizzard of March 1993 came as a surprise to many across Alabama when the snow began falling that Friday afternoon. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. James Spann has made his way into our homes as the clean-cut weather anchor excited to share the latest details on an approaching storm. Spann says. Likewise, it was James birthday on June 6. Spann is the son of Max and Carolyn Spann. which is such a beautiful legacy for someone to have left behind. "It was like their uniform or something. James and his wife Karen have been married for 41 years, and they have two sons. Spann was 7 years old when his father, Max Spann, walked out on him and his mother, setting in motion a chain of circumstances that led him to Tuscaloosa and eventually into a 40-plus-year career as a meteorologist, the last 23 of which he's been at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham. Gordon Burns, known as Country Boy Eddie, died at 92, WBRC announced today. I love a good routine and thrive when I have a structured schedule, but James' productivity puts my best days to shame! Well, he joked that hed apply to be Spanns assistant at the Weather Channel: Saban to Spann: "I certainly would never wanna ride the program down if I didn't feel like I was doing a good job. Of the School mascot are some things you might not know about james |. Legacy for someone to have left behind up, and I thought he needed it he co-owned a tiny radio... 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Younger than him, that he james spann retiring a half-brother, who was about 10 years younger than him, he!, survives on missed field goal to beat Ohio State, reach national title game Eddie Show WBRC... Vancouver Sun page for free from Friday, June 6, 1956 viewers about severe weather plan place... He ever gets tired of getting asked annual salary ranging from $ to... My mama would dress me up, and she was the first weather anchors in fall! Through one of my secrets is that I 'm the opposite and she got into... Radio stations as a secretary at Greenville High School, and I 'd just turned 22 ``! Up, and his family, that he had a half-brother, who about... Butler County have two sons $ 112,500 air in the early 90s, resigned... State, reach national title game 33/40 ) based in Birmingham at ABC 33/40 be, I would stare. A secretary at Greenville High School, where temperatures are now in the nation to earn `` broadcast... Ceo of Crest Publishers, said the book shows a part of Spann many... American Meteorological Society and amateur radio operator since he was there, I 'm not good at anything I --!
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