Goddard signed a multi-year contract renewal with WJW in December 2014 but on the 18th of May 2016, he announced his retirement from weather duties in November 2016. On the 22nd of November, he delivered his last forecast, ending his 55 years of weather forecasting. The station's weather center was renamed for him out of respect. He still continues to tape animal advocacy and adoption segments for WJW.
Goddard now has the Guinness World Record for having the longest career as a weatherman in Television History. By the time of his retirement, he clocked more than 100,000 forecasts on television.
Dick Goddard has published three books related to the weather forecasting field. He first published "Dick Goddard's Weather Guide for Northeast Ohio" by Cleveland's Gray & Co in 1988. He then published "Dick Goddard's Almanac for Northeast Ohio" under Gray & Co and "Six Inches of Partly Cloudy: Cleveland's Legendary TV Meteorologist Takes on Everything and More" under Gray & Co. publishers in 2011.
Dick Goddard is a recognized advocate of animal rights. The Dick Goddard Foundation was created to support animal advocacy, medical care, and rehabilitation of animals. The most notable milestone of his advocacy is the "Dick Goddard's Law", a bill to implement severe penalties for animal abuse. It was introduced in 2013 and reintroduced to the Ohio General Assembly in 2015. The 2015 version of the bill was signed into law on June 13, 2016.
Dick created the Woollybear Festival in 1973. The event is dedicated to teaching children and the general public about weather and animals. The one-day event is held every Fall in downtown Vermilion, Ohio on Lake Erie.
Throughout his lifetime, Goddard has received a number of awards and honors for his advocacy and his excellent work as a weather forecast anchor.
· American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval
· 2011 Gold Circle Award, presented by Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards chapter
· 1992 Silver Circle Award, presented by Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards chapter
· Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 2001)
· Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 1989)
· Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 1994)
· South Marginal Road in Cleveland renamed "Dick Goddard Way"
· Ohio GA 131 House Bill 60 named "Dick Goddard's Law"
· Guinness Book of World Records - Longest career as a weather forecaster (51 years, 6 days)
· Fox 8 News weather desk renamed the "Dick Goddard Weather Center"
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 24 Feb, 1931 |
| Age: | 89 yrs |
| Occupations: | Statistician Meteorologist Journalist Weather presenter |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Akron |
| Education: | U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American meteorologist |
| Net Worth 2020: | 5 million |
| Net Worth 2021: | 1 million |
