A Deserved Award

On the road…

J.B. Elliott and I had a very enjoyable trip to Cullman county on Wednesday. We attended a ceremony honoring Jim McCravy of Hanceville, who was awarded the 2004 Thomas Jefferson Award, presented by John Gordon and Lary Burgett of the National Weather Service in Huntsville. The award is the most prestigious in the NWS Cooperative Weather Observer Program, with only 11 being presented to cooperative weather observers across the nation this year. McCravy served as the cooperative weather observer for the Bessemer area until 1969 when he and his wife moved to Hanceville. In the early 1970s, he established a weather observation station at his Hanceville home and has been collecting weather data for NWS ever since. J.B. helped set Mr. McCravy up in the NWS cooperative program over 40 years ago, and shared a few words at the ceremony.

These cooperative observers have to keep very detailed data, and often they have a hard time getting away from home due to their duties. It is often a thankless job, so it was great seeing Mr. McCravy getting this honor. Here at ABC 33/40 we have a large team of volunteer weather watchers across the state; it was good seeing one of them, Alston Keith, getting a little publicity on our 6:00 news last night.

After the Cullman ceremony it was up the street to the All Steak restaurant for lunch. I have never had a bad meal at that place over the years, and the food is just as good at their new location in downtown Cullman. Good to see director Phyllis Little and Kelly Allen of the Cullman EMA, who joined us for lunch. Due to a confidential agreement made at the lunch table, I am not allowed here to tell you who ordered milk shakes, and how many were ordered!