Thursday, September 24, 2009

Dan the Man Moves On

Dan Edwards, KTAB's chief meteorologist, is moving on from Abilene, and today is his last day at the station.

Everyone in the newsroom will miss Dan's positive emergy and upbeat personality very much. He is a very driven person when it comes to the weather and always has a glass-half-full attitude.

I remember one night there were severe storms and tornadic activity in the area. I was trying to tape two debates with the Abilene City Council candidates in the KTAB studio. Right in the middle of a candidate answering a question, I see Dan getting antsy in the weather center. I went over to him and he said, "Can we stop the debate? I have to get on the air." So we interrupted the debate, which was perfectly fine with the candidates who agreed with Dan that the safety of residents comes first. It's just one example of his passion for meteorology.

And it's not just the viewers at home that Dan is concerned about. My inbox is often full of photos, forecasts, and warnings that Dan sends around to people in the building to make sure that we know what's going on as well.

Weather is king to Dan, but his family always comes first. That's why he's decided to move on from KTAB after three years. Dan will remain in the television meteorology business and we will all miss him very much!

Check back later this afternoon for Dan's personal goodbye, and you're welcome to leave comments for him here.

_

53 comments:

  1. Good luck. I only watch KTAB. We will miss seeing you

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  2. I am sad to see you go. I have to say you have been the best one yet. My daughter who is 16 thinks you are the greatest. You once came to her school and spoke. We will greatly miss you.

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  3. Dan,
    I think you were an asset to the community and will be greatly missed. Your weather knowledge and ability to alert us in case of bad weather went beyond just a t.v. weatherman, you were a genuine friend to the Big Country.I have learned a great deal about weather from listening to you and reading your blogs.
    Best Wishes,
    Jon Bright
    Tye Elementary

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  4. Dan...

    Best of luck to you and your family! You've done a great job at KTAB!

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  5. We will miss you Dan. You are an AWESOME person and a TERRIFIC meteorolist. Our KTAB station will not be the same without you. God bless you and your family as you began a new chapter in your life. YOU ARE #1

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  6. I am 17 and I didn't start watching thr news until Dan got
    on KTAB because he made the weather interesting and I couldn't wait to watch the news! We will miss you so much, KTAB will not be the same without you! Wherever you go they will be lucky to have you! Good luck!

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  7. Oh my gosh! NO! Seth, my grandson, will be crushed! Thank you for reaching out and spending the day with him. He still talks about it. We will miss you so very much. You are the best thing that ever happened to weather in Abilene. I always say if Dan didn't say so then it isn't so. What a loss for our community. Best wishes to you Dan. Keep me posted on what you are doing on facebook. My link is www.facebook.com/abilenetexasrealtor
    You will be sorely missed :(
    Connie

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  8. Dan,
    We are very sad to see you go! We too have lived in the Big Country for about 3 years and you are the only one we trust when it comes to forecasting the weather. You are the best!
    Sincerely,
    Mike and Andrea Lee
    Bangs, TX

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  9. Dan you have been responive to the needs of the community. When I asked about pollen counts you provided them We share repect for the best weather man ever Harold Taft. You will be missed. we wish you the very best of everthing in your journey. Blessings, Judy and Ed

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  10. Anonymous
    Dan
    You are truely more than a weatherman, you have also touched our family and helped them to understand about storms and not to be affraid of them. Our boy has Autism and he always looks foreward to seeing you nightly talkin about the clouds and the weather. We will miss ya, happy trails from a big country family

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  11. We have enjoyed your weather forecasting immensely. Also appreciate the calls when there is bad weather. Wish the best for you and your familyl
    Edith & Kenneth Bibb
    Rising Star, TX

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  12. Dan

    I was wanting to say thanks for being their for the good and bad weather you are the best at what ya do. Ever since you've been on KTAB I've always watched your weather updates you are so accurate on wheather and also wanting to ty for showing our photos we have sent to ya on the weather and enjoyed talking to ya on the phone and met ya at the studios. best wishes to your new success we will miss ya
    Steven & Connie
    Moran, Tx

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  13. Dan,
    I hate to see you leave. You are the best weather person I have heard. I always tell my husband that, that what Dan the man said so it is right. Best of luck to you. You will truly be missed.

    Barbara Anderson
    Tye, TX

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  14. Dan

    Once again we would like to express our appreciation for the outstanding weather forecasting you have provided to us during your tenure at KTAB. Like I said before, we stayed up
    late (past 10pm..which is late for us seniors)
    many a night just to here your evening weather
    forecast prior to turning in...so needless to say, you will be missed by us. Good luck in your future travels.
    Frank and Bunny
    Clyde, Texas

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  15. Dan, you rascal! We just get you trained on which way the sun rises/sets and you leave us. (Sun sets in the west, by the way).

    Seriously, we will all miss you, your humor and your forcasting ability.

    Gene and Kitty Dettmann

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  16. I have been in Abilene more years then I like to count and no one has forecast this West Tx. weather as accurately as you have. Hate to see you leave. Good luck to you and your family.

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  17. I'm gonna miss the best forecaster in the business. Good luck in your future, you will be missed here in Abilene.

    Chris Lanford
    Abilene

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  18. SO SORRY TO SEE YOU LEAVE KTAB. I'VE ENJOYED SENDING YOU RAIN REPORTS AND PICTURES AND SEEING THEM AIRED ON YOUR WEATHER PROGRAM. WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE WORK.
    BROOKS DAIRY~MORAN
    TOMMY BROOKS

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  19. Dan,
    I'm fairly particular about who I watch for the weather. You are by far one of the best. Not only did you do a wonderful job of forecasting, but you also educated the viewers in a fun way and tried to share interesting events for the viewers to watch in the sky. We will miss you, and we do wish you well where you are going.

    Cassandra Hicks

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  20. From the beginning, your energy and friendly style was above average and you will be missed. Thank you for spending some of your life in Abilene and best wishes for you and your family in the future.
    SJBrown

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  21. hey u have been a really good weather man u will truely be missed i always watched u i never missed a night u did a really good job i understand family comes 1st i understand u detailed the weather very well i dunno who i will watch now. thanks dan best wishes chad

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  22. Dan,
    I am so grateful to have worked with you for 2+ years while at KTAB. Your knowledge of weather and enthusiasm will be missed by all in the Big Country. Best wishes to you and your family!

    Kira

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  23. So sad to see you go, you are by far and away the best in town! Your enthusiastic attitude and informative forcasts will be missed. I especially enjoyed your information on celestial events. Thanks to you, I have seen some spectacular meteor showers and planet alignments! The very best of luck to you and your family. Wherever you go, they will be very lucky!

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  24. So sorry to see you leave KTAB. Your smiling face will certainly be missed by many. Your forcasts were the best in town and very informative and educational. Your covered the many facets of Big Country weather so well. We will miss all the 'weather extras' you always provided. We wish you and your family the best, wherever you go!

    Ted & Joanne Moomaw
    Baird, TX

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  25. Thanks, Dan, for all the accurate information you so kindly gave me when I was in a pinch for weather news prior to a photo session! What will I do without you? Sadly, I cannot imagine! :( Blessings to you and your family.

    Debbie Riggs
    Pure Photography
    Abilene, TX

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  26. Dan,
    I am so sad to hear that you are moving on, but you must do what is best for you and your family. There is no doubt in my mind that you are the best weather man! We have relied on your instinct, knowledge, and predictions...seems like you are always right. You know your weather! We have enjoyed your bubbly personality and the smile that you always share. My family will miss you greatly. We appreciate the dedication you have and hope that we will be able to tune into you again someday.
    Good luck and best wishes,
    The Hohertz's
    Early, TX

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  27. Dan I am deeply saddened that you are leaving the KTAB family. You were the BEST in town as far as I was concerned. Your smiling face will be greatly missed as will your enthusiastic presence. Who will tell us the morning weather? Who will tell us about the meteor showers and shuttle sightings? I wish you the best in the future.

    The Singleton's

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  28. Thankyou Dan for caring about us and all of your jokes. We will miss you. Takecare of yourself and your family. God Bless Yall and Goodby.

    Kimberly Moore
    Clyde.TX.

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  29. Dan, We are shocked and saddened that you will no longer be our weatherman!!! We trust you so much and enjoy watching your excellent weathercasts. Your enthusiasm and expertise are so appreciated! Please change your mind and stay with us!!
    The Lawrences

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  30. Dan,
    You will be greatly missed.I have been watching you with the weathercasts and trust you completely.Wish that you could stay around.Good luck to you and your family and May God always bless you in whatever you do.
    Rickey and Faye Justice

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  31. You will be greatly missed. I have enjoyed listening to you. hope youll the very best.

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  32. Dan,
    :'( We are so sad to see you leave the KTAB Family! We will miss you!! You have been the very best, most knowledgeable, fun, professional & certainly the most interesting meteorologist of anyone we have EVER watched! What a great loss for KTAB as we just simply do not watch boring weatherpeople! : )

    Thank you so very much for all your hard work, your knowledge, and for being you!! We wish you only the best!!

    The Thomas Family :)

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  33. Dan, we were so sorry to hear that you are leaving. We will really miss you. We have enjoyed your insight and knowledge about the weather. You also have a way of making people know that you really care about their safety in the midst of a storm. We hope you and your family will be very happy in the new location.
    Jerry and Barbara Clower
    Abilene

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  34. Dan,
    I too grew up watching "Good-Ole Harold Taft's" weather forecasting,my daddy thought he was the "GREAT ONE" as he sat on the edge of his chair stareing at that tiny tv screen,and he demanded silence when Harold was on!
    When you came to KTAB, I got that same feeling!! I now, know how my dad felt.
    I am sad to not be able to watch and hear you after tonight,but sometimes change IS a Good Thing.
    I've appreciated your coverage including my friends hunting area around the Colorado River,he recently passed away-so I no longer have a need to relay that info to him and his hunting buddies.They no longer go there,without him.
    I know HE would truely miss you as well.
    I wish you & your family the very best.
    Go Get 'em Dan!!!!

    S.McCarty
    Lake Brownwood

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  35. Goodbye, Dan -- We're so sorry to see you go! You have a great teaching ability to explain what's happening and why. Thanks so much, and blessings on you and your family in your new home.

    Carisse Berryhill
    ACU Library

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  36. Curt and Judy Schneider and Faye RuffinSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:26 AM

    Dan, you are very knowledgeable and such a pleasant guy. We have lived in Brownwood for 2 years and you're the only Weather Guy we know. Where are you going? Hope we see you again - somewhere in Texas!

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  37. You're the only reason we watch KTAB news! Hate to see you leave and wish you the best.

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  38. Dan,I hate that you are leaving. KTAB is all my family watches. And you are the only "weather guy" we trust. We know what you say will happen for the day will be right on. I will not be happy with another weather person thats for sure. By the way where in the world are you going?

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  39. So sorry to see you go. I never enjoyed the weather until you came yo KTAB. You are really going to be missed.

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  40. Just would like to say thank you and good luck on your next job God bless you and your family
    billy vera cruz abilene tx.

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  41. Dan you will be missed. God bless you, your family and the new venture. I will welcome you back to the big country any time.

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  42. Dan,
    I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I have enjoyed being a part of your S.W.A.T.. KTAB wesather just isn't going to be the same without you! Storm school in February won't be either! Best wishes in your future endeavors!
    P Hutchinson
    Rising Star

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  43. I was shocked when hubby told me it was strange on the set of KTAB news last night @ 10 pm. Hopefully your not leaving because of working conditions at KTAB. I really enjoyed your on the air humor and covering all the state of of Texas. I always liked participating in the contests and submitting weather photos. Thanks.
    Theresa Hughes
    Eastland, Texas

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  44. DAN, YOU WERE VERY GOOD AND MARY AN DI ENJOYED YOUR WEATHER.
    GOD SPED AND COME BACK WHEN YOU CAN
    P.S. WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WE WILL MOVE

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  45. Hey Dan,I'm Brett Berry,I am 13 years,and I hope to become a meteorologist someday. You have really inspired me and been an outstanding role model to me and other young meteorologists.I would like to know if you could give me a few tips.Good luck.Do well.You're the best that I've ever seen,literally.Hope that you come back someday.=)
    I wish you the best of luck,
    Brett Berry
    Clyde,Tx

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  46. Dan,
    I have never bothered to watch the news, but always the weather and I have to agree that you have been the best ever.There will be to many things that I will miss about your forecasts and predictions.It devastated me whenever I heard the news.I thought that my family was playing a joke on me at first.There will never be another one like you.
    Best of wishes and may God bless you and everyone that you impact with.
    =(
    P.S. That's supposed to say 13 years old.Can you please tell me where you go.
    Thanks alot,
    Brett Berry
    Clyde,Tx

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  47. Dear Friends and Fans,

    I first want to start by saying that I am speechless about all of the thoughtful emails and positive comments on KTAB’s blog. This evening (Friday), I sat down at my home computer and read all of the wonderful things you all had to say. After reading…..I had tears in my eyes! Never in 100 years have I realized the impact I have made here in the Big Country. I guess it’s because I get so wrapped up on a daily basis, in something I truly love….WEATHER.

    Over the past 11 years of broadcasting weather on the tube, I have gotten used to the handful of phone calls and emails from viewers stating: “Get off the damn TV…you’re ruining CSI Miami” or “You said it was going to rain and it didn’t. You caused me to cancel my hunting trip!” Over time, I have been able to laugh off the negative and focus on the positive impacts I try to make on all of you.

    In life, there is too much negativity and not enough praise. In my opinion, one must be happy with oneself, passionate about life (family, friends and strangers) and your career choice. This way, you can wake up EVERY morning, EXCITED about the new day that greets you. I think this philosophy has allowed me follow my childhood dream to be a meteorologist, earn the public’s trust when severe weather breaks, and to mold a happy family.

    Now, to answer the $100,000 question…..a lot of you are wondering why I am leaving KTAB….To make it short, I have had a side business for six years, wholesaling and retailing HOT products to earn supplemental income for my family Well, with the struggling economy, it has failed for the time being. I now need to head back to the bigger television markets to supply for family. I was hoping that I could spend the last 30+ years of my life forecasting weather in West Texas, unfortunately, this didn’t happen.

    In closing, I also want to thank KTAB and its VERY talented staff for providing me with a positive and upbeat environment for the past three years. I will always remember you all as being a top 10 market imbedded in a 162 DMA.

    Thank you Big Country for just being YOU! I am going to think of all of your positive comments about my departure and use them to continue to build on my life choices, and to keep making people that I run into to every day to…… SMILE ALL THE TIME!
    It's been a JOY presenting the weather here in the Big Country, where everyone waves with ALL five fingers!!!


    God Bless!

    Dan Edwards

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  48. Also...one more thing,you can follow where th wind takes my by searching for "Dan Brounoff" on Facebook.

    Thanks,

    Dan Edwards (Edward is my middle name....now you know!!! LOL)

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  49. We're going to miss you, Dan. You did a great job of doing the weather and are a tremendous talent to the TV and weather business.

    God bless and all the best always!

    Tony & Barb

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  50. Well, we are certainly goung to miss you. hoped your new endeavors will be all that you planned for.
    God Bless you and your family. First Randy left KTAB now you. Boo Hoo.

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  51. DAN,YOU LEAVING HAS BEEN THE WORST THING IN KTAB TV HISTORY.I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT.YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY EVERYONE IN THE BIG COUNTRY.YOU LEAVING IS LIKE SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU DYING.YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE BUT YOUR FORCED TO AND THEN THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.HOPE TO SEE YOU ONE LAST TIME AT THE BALLOON FEST.GOODBYE FOR NOW DAN.

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  52. Dan, what can we say that hasn't already been said, we're sorry to see you go. We could always count on your precision of the weather and in West Texas that's a challenge. Thank you for your time with us. Take care.
    God Bless,
    The Ramirez's

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  53. Just realized in past few days that Dan is gone and not just on vacation! We have been watching KTAB news for the 30 years it has been on and Dan was the best weather person EVER! He had it all - personality, watchability, knowledge, common sense - could go on forever. But most importantly he could actually forecast the weather for our area. After a few months, my husband made the comment that "Dan the weatherman", as we called him, wouldn't be there long because a big station would snatch him up. We are back to not watching the local news as much, so IF KTAB ever finds a weather person even close to Dan, maybe they should pay them more to keep them in the big country.
    Lytane Parker
    Breckenridge

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