223,657 talking about this. Ages: 10 years and up. They'd talk about ways of keeping black people out of the church. James Max Spann Jr., the little boy from Greenville who grew up to become a man in Tuscaloosa, has weathered life. He has been a television weather . Spann had already built up a reputation, earning an Emmy for coverage of the 2000 tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa and all kinds of annual weather anchor and broadcasting awards. One of his largest philanthropic commitments is serving as the chairman of a board of large hospital in Birmingham. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com). And every, single time, the guy never showed up. Despite the negatives (like navigating a crazy sleep schedule and dealing with social media trolls), James continued to reiterate how much he loved his job, and that really shone through his words and outlook on life. The American Academy of Pediatrics this month reported data that shows a 1,375 percent increase in children's consumption of "edibles," or food products infused with marijuana, between 2017-2021. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) James Michael Spann, a man serving a life sentence for the 1993 murder of a teenage girl, was denied parole on Wednesday. First - he wants someone who has an impeccable work ethic and will work harder than he does. Bill Castle shot this video in 2013 pic.twitter.com/v66RKG8dho. If there is one tornado in the whole state, and it hits your house, that day is your April 27. And I dont take it for granted.". In the early 90s, he earned his certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University through the schools distance learning program. You know, forgiveness is very freeing.". View our online Press Pack. James, the meteorologist for ABC 33/40, is content with his life. I woke him up to get him to help me out., Burns, in a 2013 video, recalled asking Spann to start his early morning show with his signature mule call.. The last day he was really excited was March 17, 2021, when a system produced 25tornadoesacross the state of Alabama. "I understand them, and they understand me.". ", 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. Despite the warnings Spann and others gave leading up to the tornadoes,more than238 people across Alabama died. Then, the following fall, when he was just 17 and still in high school, he got his first real radio job playing rock 'n' roll on Tuscaloosa's WTBC-AM 1230, the station Spann had listened to on his transistor radio since he and his mother first came to Tuscaloosa. He decided to remain at ABC 33/40, informing viewers on the storm. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--James Spann, a popular meteorologist for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, sharing weather . Through the years, their paths would cross again when they both joined 33/40 in 1996. Mental health is so important, and for a long time, it wasn't discussed much - especially in the field of meteorology. "He moved us into a really nice house in Greenville. Burns' show ran from the late 1950s until the early 1990s. "You could always tell he was going to have a huge career.". He let James come to the NWS office to watch him work, and most importantly, he was always an encourager. I am so saddened to hear of the death of Birmingham TV legend Country Boy Eddie. He went on to the University of Alabama after high school. She came to WVTM in 1977. However, just because the state might not experience a massive outbreak as it did on that day, all it takes is one tornado. The dedicated weather reporter then continued covering the tornado, warning locals of its intended route. Little information is available on his wife, but the pair got hitched on June 6, 1981, and have been married for 40 years. James Spann's better half, Karen is a glad spouse, and they have two youngsters together. There were five deaths on March 25th, and James says the most challenging thing about his job is getting the loss of life down to zero when there are tornadoes. . And they (Channel 33) said theyd pay me to talk about weather? 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. Following the storm, Spann traveled to Jasper to report on the damage, leading him to a local hospital to see the dozens of people either dead or injured from the storm. "She made that promise," Spann says, "and by golly, she delivered on it. Manual; Automatic; Semi-automatic; James was one of the first weather anchors in the nation to earn "Certified Broadcast Meteorologist" status from the American Meteorological Society. ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann, however, once said it came with ample . There were no mean men in black suits smoking. While on the air, Spann's home was in the path of an E-3 tornado with his wife inside. And a lot of the older people in there knew me. He has worked in journalism since 1978 and is most recognized for his work on WBMA-LD. "These are my people," he likes to say. We note a few isolated showers near the Gulf Coast, but the weather is dry elsewhere. During the 1973 Brent tornado and the 1974 Superoutbreak, he assisted in the transmission of information. During this time, he's also producing additional radio segments and writing an afternoon weather discussion with another video. Spann has worked in the field since 1978, and is often praised for his easy-to-understand and likely life-saving forecasting during the destructive 2011 Super Outbreak. I've done all kinds of stuff. James Spann is the chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala. The funeral will be held at 1 p Weve had obviously some shingle damage, but the house is intact, its OK.", "My ask is that you consider helping those that are homeless tonight, that have lost their homes. Juggling work, family, and community commitments, including navigating the beast of social media, can take a toll on mental health for all of us. He was on the air for 37 years. An only child, James Max Spann Jr. was born in Huntsville and his family moved to Athens when he was a toddler. He is also a Marine Corps veteran and a career executive in the healthcare and life sciences industry. "I mean, in Vacation Bible School, we would make ashtrays for these guys, so they can smoke outside the church. by richard keech, steven keech, et al. Whether it's dealing with trolls on social media or suffering from PTSD after a traumatic weather event, the job can be quite challenging, and it's refreshing to see such a focus being put on mental health. 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. Along the way he has worked for WCFT in Tuscaloosa, WSFA in Montgomery, KDFW in . Dec 10, 2017 - Explore Tamara Summers's board "James spann ", followed by 717 people on Pinterest. James Spann | January 11, 2023 @ 2:56 pm. 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. Also, the host of WeatherBrains, and a genuine weather dweeb/dork/nerd/weenie. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There is massive importance to integrity. All rights reserved. We raised two boys. After 23 years at ABC 33/40, hes not planning on going anywhere else. I think for anyone, a motivating factor is to overcome the naysayers.". But despite the scare, Spann still focused his comments on other residents who are stuck in even more unfortunate situations. Did we use terms that people didn't understand?". His wife, Karen, was present in the residence when it got hit - but luckily made it to safety in their in-home shelter. Pre-COVID, he visited 1-2 schools a day, and though he can't be there in-person right now, he's continuing to connect with the community virtually. My friends were there. He also really loves his job, and said that "If you love weather, it's the greatest job in the world. As James called out communities in north Shelby County where the tornado was passing, he listed his own neighborhood, saying the torando was . She reports on State Politics, local governments, and public education in Alabama. UFC Fight . Additionally, as of 2020, Spann's estimated net worth is $2 million. 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. Tags: 'Vietnam' Asia Retire To Hanoi. Spann, who studied electrical engineering at UA, paid for his college tuition while working at WTBC, where he stayed for five years and worked his way up to program director before he got an offer to join Tuscaloosa TV station WCFT/Channel 33 in 1978. To learn more about where James' story began and the winding road that brought him to where he is today, I encourage you to read his autobiography, "Weathering Life." Kathleen Peddicord. A huge tree just missed our house! CNN's American meteorologist Allison Chinchar has a net worth of $500,000. Officer James Jenkins Spann. James Spann (@spann) January 13, 2023. "That had never been done in the market before, and everyone has followed suit ever since.". - Courtesy North West Alabamian. In all, James has been a television weather anchor for 44 years. "I just got so hooked into the weather. I watch The Weather Channel, so I feel like I'm an expert.". They knew I couldn't afford a ham radio, but they would give me their old equipment to use.". "My wife is OK, but the tornado came right through there and its not good, its bad. James is a published author in addition to his journalistic work. He has published an autobiography, "Weathering Life." (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life") NEW! He does it five days a week, sometimes visiting two schools a day. "Did we not use the right facial expressions? Karen told her husband: "Oh, it's a miracle. LIVE: Chief Meteorologist James Spann provides the latest on the severe weather moving through the state -- MORE -- https://bit.ly/3D45txN Weve had obviously some shingle damage, but the house is intact, its OK.", "My ask is that you consider helping those that are homeless tonight, that have lost their homes. After WBRC was purchased by News Corporation in 1996, James departed the station and began dropping its long-standing affiliation with ABC in order to join Fox. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family, after having bravely battled pancreatic cancer. To him, that will be decided by other people. Alabama is no stranger to severe weather, and I wanted to ask James how the April 2011 outbreak impacted him and his family, as well as the impacts of the recent tornadoes in March. James has been inducted into the Theta Tau professional engineering fraternity Alumni Hall of Fame, and the University of Alabama School of Communication Hall of Fame. I was Jim back then (in the 1960s), and they were like, 'Jim, what are you doing here?'. What to expect; First visit; FAQ; Our Practice; Why? "That's very motivating for me.". Baird came up with Spann at WTBC, where they both worked as disc jockeys. Spann said that through writing a book about his life, he hopes he can encourage other people by reminding them that despite setbacks he had early in his life, he was able to find the life he wanted. This book, the first in a series, will address that through adventures with Benny (a bear) and Chipper (a dog). In all, James has been a television weather anchor for 32 years. In addition, he celebrates his birthday on the 6th of January every year, and his zodiac sign is Gemini. I didn't like those guys. Back in 1994, Spann admitted to shooting 17 . My life was there.". "I have not been in this house since I moved out in 1978," the 63-year-old Spann says. The site is basically a list of what's allowed him to become financially independent and how you can implement those successes in your life. It turned out that number was way too low, Spann told AL.com in 2013. Spann does not think too much about his legacy. While he was a child, his family relocated to Greenville, Butler County. James Spann was born in Alabama on June 6, 1956. 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, Birmingham's ABC affiliate. "But whenever he was there, I felt loved and accepted and I felt secure. The best result we found for your search is James H Spann age 50s in Lake Mary, FL. "I was driving through Butler County and it was about 9 o'clock and it just hit me like a brick in the head: You need to go back to that church over there," he says. He was elected to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle, representing outstanding achievement spanning at least 25 years in the broadcast industry with a proven record of mentoring and community involvement. 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 . And his final criteria is having a servants heart and looking after others more than yourself. During the hearing, the board voted to decline parole for the now 49-year-old Spann due to the seriousness of the offense. Its bad.". (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). James began working for WSFA in Montgomery in late 1978 as a weekend sports anchor and part-time weatherman. Everything he wasn't very motivated to be, I'm the opposite. The Tay Ho District (West Lake, an area with an established expat population) is a good place to look for something both comfortable and affordable. I became a TV weather guy in the summer of 1978, and I'd just turned 22.". ", The 64-year-old later tweeted a statement regarding the damage to his home echoing his earlier comments, while adding: "As I often say, tornadoes happen to real people, at a real place, at a real time.". His sole purpose in life is to mitigate loss of life during inclement weather. James is the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40. . Be sure you don't miss any groups, and know where your weaknesses are so that you can address them. ", The 64-year-old later tweeted a statement regarding the damage to his home echoing his earlier comments, while adding: "As I often say, tornadoes happen to real people, at a real place, at a real time.". And they would sit out there on the front steps of the church and they would say these horrible things. . James Spann's wife is Karen Spann. Lets hope we still get a few more years of Saban on college sidelines before he starts chasing hurricanes with his friend Spann! Spann went before the parole board for the first time in 2018. I was blessed because of that experience.". That is when they began taking an interdisciplinary approach to weather, and the results have paid off immensely. NEW! I am so saddened to hear of the death of Birmingham TV legend Country Boy Eddie. Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204. He said: "My wife got the warning, she had a plan, she was in the shelter and shes fine. Carolyn worked as a secretary at Greenville High School, while his father, Max, was a timber salesman. - Courtesy North West Alabamian . "She knew that she had to teach," he says. James spent his early childhood in Greenville, a small town in southern Alabama, and though this part of his journey will not be shared in today's blog, I think it's something many will resonate with. 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.". he wondered. When I was a kid, I thought it was a mansion. Humble. In order to combat this, he tries getting "off the grid" every Sunday by going to play tennis. One is national "Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Weather Association. In 1973, he began his broadcasting career at WTBC radio in Tuscaloosa. 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. 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. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but a technicality in the law led Spann to get life in prison with the possibility of parole. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). "Obviously our landscaping is going to be a lot different now. James Spann keeps himself busy. The legacy continues. During his segment on the unbelievable weather conditions, the renowned meteorologist stepped off camera after finding out his home had sustained some damage, with his wife inside. Refine Your Search Results. Bill Castle shot this video in 2013. You drive past it today, it just looks like a regular house.". We lost a lot of trees. Spanns father left the family when he was seven years old, leaving Carolyn to raise him. "You could get on the air and you could communicate with people in other parts of the country and the world with a little wire on your roof," he says. We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Spann says. "You never know why things happened at the time, but later in life, things start to make sense," Spann told The Tuscaloosa News after a recent broadcast at 33/40. Then it was off to Dallas for two years at KDFW/Channel 4 before he got homesick and came back to Alabama. After finishing fifth grade at Verner Elementary, he transferred to Eastwood Junior High School. Spann also discovered he had a half-brother, who was about 10 years younger than him, that he had never previously known. "I just felt I had to go find him," Spann says. 2023 www.tuscaloosanews.com. Alabama Blues Hall of Fame member Mac Arnold's first band included James Brown on piano. After three years in Demopolis, he came back to Birmingham in 1989 and returned to doing what he loved, anchoring the weather at WBRC/Channel 6. His alarm goes off at 4:30 AM most mornings, earlier if there is a severe weather threat in the area, and he starts his mornings at his home studio. About three years ago, on his way back from Mobile on a Sunday morning, Spann also went back to revisit his old church, Greenville Baptist Church. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. James's passion for protecting people is evident - which is why he visits schools every day! Residents of the state had a plan, they were ready and knew what to do, but we still need to look back at the five fatalities and see what happened. "She was a secretary at Greenville High School. A huge tree just missed our house! The next book should come out next spring and will cover tornadoes. Emmy Award winner Spann is a married man and has two kids. Simultaneously, he enrolled at Mississippi State University in a meteorology program. James Spanns book, Weathering Life, is available in paperback for $19.95 and as an e-book for $17.95 at jamesspannbook.com. The Birmingham TV station announced on its website this week that Daily Mountain Eagle ABC 33/40 anchor Dave Baird, who got his start in broadcasting in Jasper, will . He worries more about the people who don't have the money in place to repair their homes or anywhere to go while their homes are being rebuilt. Carolyn Spann had promised her son that she would get them a bigger place to live, and two years later, after she finished her degree and started teaching English at Tuscaloosa High School, they moved into that house on Fairway Drive. Who is that, you ask? The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. In 1986, however, he resigned from his position and relocated to Alabama. His passion and dedication were apparent as he spoke of his schedule; it was clear that this is what he wants. 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. That was the hardest part.". See more ideas about james spann, storm chasing, tornado season. James Max Spann Jr. is James Spann's real name. "Were all here to help other people," he said. Click a location below to find James more easily. Fortunately for James and his family, neither he nor his relatives were impacted directly by a tornado on April 27, 2011. 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. He joined ABC 33/40 one month after the station signed on the air in the fall of 1996. Spann was the morning drive disc jockey and the play-by-play guy for high school football games on Friday nights. "And it was the most marvelous experience because there were black people in there, the mean guys were gone, and one of my best friends from childhood is the mayor, a guy named Dexter McLendon. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. . "Everyone needs an encourager in their life," James added, "It's even more important today than it was then." April 27 happened on his watch. James Spann is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. "I think people would be amazed with how much he packs into a day," said Dave Baird, former 33/40 anchor who retired in 2017. "It was just crazy. Friendly. James Max Spann Jr. (born June 6, 1956) is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. The summer before ninth grade, Spann got interested in ham radio and with the help of fellow "hams" like Bud Pierce and Dr. Gordon King, he became a licensed ham radio operator when he was 14. He currently works for WBMA-LD (ABC 33/40), Birmingham's AB He also went on to say that if he wasn't doing what he's doing, he'd love to be a third grade science teacher because he knows how to get to their level and communicate science for them. She was the first woman named to a nightly news broadcast in Birmingham. "Thats the night I lost my innocence," he said. However, there are some things he hopes are carried through his work, like trying to get more young people involved in science and meteorology or doing what he can to make sure people stay safe during bad weather. "I worked 6 (p.m.) to midnight, and my first song was 'Jessica' by the Allman Brothers. THIS AFTERNOON: The sky is mostly sunny across South Alabama this afternoon, where temperatures are now in the mid 70s. James was thereafter transferred to Tuscaloosa High School, where he received his diploma in 1974. I played the long version to give me a chance to settle down because I was so nervous. 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