Dick Goddard biography, meteorologist, married, wife, divorce

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Dick Goddard is known as a former American meteorologist, animal activist. and author. He is most famous for his work at the Fox Station in Cleveland, Ohio.

<h2>Background</h2>

<a href="/biography/dick-goddard">Richard D. Goddard</a> was born on February 24, 1931, in Akron, Ohio. In 1947, the Goddard family moved to a small farm in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green,_Ohio">Green</a>, Ohio. Goddard graduated from Green High School in 1949. He then joined the United States Air Force and took classes on meteorology during a stint from 1949 through the early 1950s. He has also worked as a meteorologist for the US Atomic Energy Commission in the Pacific where he completed a notable assignment of forecasting for atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.

Afterward, he attended Kent State University and majored in drama and broadcasting. During this period he scored success as the lead role, Curly in the school's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma. In 1960, he graduated from Kent State University and hoped to join Walt Disney as a cartoonist.

<h2>Relationships</h2>

In 1996, Goddard's lover, Julie Ann Cashel passed away. She was described as the "love of my life" by Goddard. In 2004, Goddard divorced from his second wife, Amber Williams whom he married in December 1977. Amber was charged with domestic violence prior to their divorce.

In September 2016, Goddard was hospitalized after falling at home and fracturing his hip. Goddard has a daughter from his first marriage, Kim Goddard, who filled in for the Woollybear Festival in October 2016 due to Goddard's inability to participate while recovering from injuries.

<h2>Career</h2>

In 1960, soon after graduation from Kent State University, Goddard joined Westinghouse Broadcasting-owned KYW-TV in Cleveland as a weather forecaster. On May 1, 1961, Goddard made his debut as a weatherman on KYW Channel 3. During this period Goddard worked beside <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Graner">sports anchor</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Graner">Jim Graner</a>. In June 1965 Goddard moved to WRCV-TV in Philadelphia but he returned to Cleveland a few months later. The following year, Goddard became the chief meteorologist at WJW-TV.

Upon his return to Cleveland, he also took a job with the NFL's Cleveland Browns as the official statistician of the team. WJW carried Browns games until 1970 and later the games moved to WKYC. Goddard held the position from 1966 until 2011.

Goddard hosted WJW's version of "Bowling for Dollars", a syndicated franchised game show, from August 1977 to January 1979. He was also featured in numerous skits on WJW's Big Chunk.

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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.

<h2>Advocacy and Social Work</h2>

Dick Goddard is a recognized <a href="/biography/dick-goddard">advocate</a> 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 "<a href="/biography/dick-goddard">Dick Goddard's Law</a>", a <a href="/biography/dick-goddard">bill</a> 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.

<h2>Awards and Honors</h2>

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 "<a href="/biography/dick-goddard">Dick Goddard's Law</a>"

· 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"

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