. Spann was the morning drive disc jockey and the play-by-play guy for high school football games on Friday nights. He is the news editor at Saturday Down South and across all Saturday Football brands. Spann is the founder of The Meteorological Factory, which supplies weather data to industrial and business clients as well as broadcasts weather forecasts for many radio stations. "He was supposed to come pick me up multiple times to take me somewhere, to go get an ice cream cone or go somewhere around Greenville," Spann remembers. 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. I watch The Weather Channel, so I feel like I'm an expert.". 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. He is also a Marine Corps veteran and a career executive in the healthcare and life sciences industry. 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. During this time, he's also producing additional radio segments and writing an afternoon weather discussion with another video. All rights reserved (About Us). "When we moved back to Greenville, I just assumed we were going to stay there," Spann says. 14h. Nick Saban is a noted Weather Channel aficionado and was joined by meteorologist James Spann for his Thursday evening radio show this week. Little information is available on his wife, but the pair got hitched on June 6, 1981, and have been married for 40 years. His first childhood memories, though, are from his early years growing up in Greenville, in Butler County. "This is the great secret about James Spann: Im not the greatest at anything I do," he said. The 2011 tornado still weighs heavily on Spann, not just because of the damage it caused to the city where he grew up, but because of the high number of deaths from the storms. Spann went before the parole board for the first time in 2018. Simultaneously, he enrolled at Mississippi State University in a meteorology program. "That's very motivating for me.". "I learned how to work hard," Spann says on the drive to Tuscaloosa. 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.". Kathleen Peddicord. 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. It opened a whole new world to the shy kid from Greenville. ALABAMA has been ravaged by a series of several deadly tornadoes, toppling trees, destroying homes, and cutting off power supplies across the state. He was on the air for 37 years. I became a TV weather guy in the summer of 1978, and I'd just turned 22.". "One of my secrets is that I'm not good at anything I do -- I'm really not. The meteorologist was warning viewers at . Its bad.". "My mama would dress me up, and she would sit me in a little chair over by the front door. Mrs. Spann died on Dec. 9, 2018, at 86. The funeral will be held at 1 p We had been in a little box of an apartment, just tiny, tiny. 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. Did we use terms that people didn't understand?". In October 1989, he returned to television, this time as the main weatherman on Birminghams WBRC-TV. "When you put the needs of others in front of your own, life gets really good. 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. During his weather report on the afternoon of Thursday, March 25, James Spann, 64, learned that his own home had been struck. He also really loves his job, and said that "If you love weather, it's the greatest job in the world. "But whenever he was there, I felt loved and accepted and I felt secure. Spann does not think too much about his legacy. I love a good routine and thrive when I have a structured schedule, but James' productivity puts my best days to shame! Spann is 66 years old as of June 2022. Though he says he learned that late in life, he now realizes that were put here to help people. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). Mental health is so important, and for a long time, it wasn't discussed much - especially in the field of meteorology. ", James Spann is pictured here in this childhood photo with his mother, Carolyn Spann, who raised him after his father left when James was 7 years old. He believes that getting to kids while they're young his huge, but he can't talk to every child across the worldso he recently commissioned his wife and son (whom he credits with being much more creative than him) to write a children's book, "Benny and Chipper: PreparedNot Scared." And yet, the man who says he has never written a work resume or filled out a job application has a modesty that often belies his work and reputation across Alabama. James Spann in Tennessee. The AMS stated he was the winner in part because of "his tireless efforts to advance the public's awareness of and engagement in the science of meteorology, particularly severe weather forecasting and response". I was Jim back then (in the 1960s), and they were like, 'Jim, what are you doing here?'. James is a published author in addition to his journalistic work. James was one of the first weather anchors in the nation to earn "Certified Broadcast Meteorologist" status from the American Meteorological Society. The call letters, WBBR, stood for Black Bear Radio, in honor of the school mascot. James Spann Was Destined to be Alabama's Weather Man. He decided to remain at ABC 33/40, informing viewers on the storm. James's passion for protecting people is evident - which is why he visits schools every day! It's been a great, great family journey.". But nothing will ever beat the excitement of that night on that 250-watt radio station. I think the reason he became so great was because he run my show that morning when that big snow was on and he learned all about braying like a mule, riding a mule, hanging there like a rusty fishhook, Burns said in 2013. Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. "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. "Thank goodness for these men, these men who stepped up to fill the gap in my life," Spann says. "Obviously our landscaping is going to be a lot different now. - Courtesy North West Alabamian . James was thereafter transferred to Tuscaloosa High School, where he received his diploma in 1974. The couple share two children, James and Ryan. He's . He is a past winner . James Spann reflects on April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak, As Alabama's most recognizable TV weatherman, James Spann takes it personally. At that point, they'd listened to their friends complain about doing everything right, and still not really "feeling . 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. ", BBC1's live FA Cup coverage hit by porn noises from mobile hidden by prankster, Three major energy suppliers paying you to turn off appliances tonight, Major bar chain to close on Mondays and Tuesdays due to rocketing energy bills, Gran's tribute to girl, 4, & mum killed after being hit by racing Audi', News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. View our online Press Pack. "Life doesn't get any better than that.". Georgia destroys TCU to repeat as national champs, Rapid Reaction: LSU dominates Purdue in short-handed Citrus Bowl wipeout, Rapid Reaction: Mississippi State swings its sword, wins ReliaQuest Bowl on last-second field goal, Rapid Reaction: Unreal! Throughout any given day, Spann, the longtime meteorologist for ABC 33/40, could be communicating with more than 1 million of his combined followers on Twitter and F "I don't think he ever knew it was me," he says. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--James Spann, a popular meteorologist for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, sharing weather . Looking back on March 25, he knows that the warning process worked really well; the death toll could have easily been 100. Her family was in attendance again to argue against his release. James Spann keeps himself busy. James Spann's house hit by tornado. ALABAMA has been ravaged by a series of several deadly tornadoes, toppling trees, destroying homes, and cutting off power supplies across the state. 8,223. "Did we not say the right thing?" She came to WVTM in 1977. We support responsible gambling. Through the years, their paths would cross again when they both joined 33/40 in 1996. They stood in the front yard and talked. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but a technicality in the law led Spann to get life in prison with the possibility of parole. Burns hosted the Country Boy Eddie Show on WBRC from 1957 to 1993. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In a changing media landscape where news organizations constantly fight for peoples attention, Spann admits part of his obsession with work is about self-preservation, but another motivation is about still about trying to prove himself. Select this result to view James H Spann's phone number, address, and more. ", Forensic MeteorologyWeather Resources + GuidesSeminars, STM WeatherPO Box 117Cropseyville, NY 12052, 2021 STM Weather | Privacy PolicySite Design by Dapper Fox, when a system produced 25tornadoesacross the state of Alabama. He worked for a variety of radio stations as a news anchor and weatherman such as WSFA /Channel . 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. His father died just a couple of years later, and Spann spread his ashes at the family gravesite in Industry, a little community back home in Butler County. "A reasonable overall budget for living in this city is about US$1,100 or US$1,200 per month, including rent of US$500.". ", This is a school photo taken of James Spann around 1970. He is also always (24 hours a day/7 days a week) monitoring his social media, trying to monitor people's questions across all social platforms, which seems to be me like a full-time job in itself! UPDATED at 2:16 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 8, 2019 to add that Spann received a certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University in the early 1990s. In fact, anytime there is a big severe weather event, he always thinks "What would J.B. The last day he was really excited was March 17, 2021, when a system produced 25tornadoesacross the state of Alabama. Lets hope we still get a few more years of Saban on college sidelines before he starts chasing hurricanes with his friend Spann! My life was there.". Spann has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $5 million as of 2023. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. 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 then makes his way to the studio, where he works from around 1:30 PM to 11:30 PM, as he's on the evening newscasts at 4, 5, 6, and 10 PM. "You could always tell he was going to have a huge career.". Humble. He does it five days a week, sometimes visiting two schools a day. Spann is the son of Max and Carolyn Spann. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan those that have relatives who lost their lives, that are in the hospital tonight. James Spann was born in Alabama on June 6, 1956. 223,657 talking about this. Funeral Home Services for James are being provided by Regency Mortuary - Sun City. Fortunately for James and his family, neither he nor his relatives were impacted directly by a tornado on April 27, 2011. Board Chairman Richard Montgomery recommended a parole review hearing again in two years. OU alumnus James Spann is founder and managing partner of Norman-based Boyd Street Ventures. James Max Spann Jr. (born June 6, 1956) is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. The sun is out across Southwest Alabama, where some spots have reached 50 degrees. Nothing has ever topped that. James Spann has covered severe weather in Alabama since the 1970s. "I got off the interstate and drove over to First Baptist Church in Greenville and walked through the door. - Courtesy North West Alabamian. The blizzard of March 1993 came as a surprise to many across Alabama when the snow began falling that Friday afternoon. I was blessed because of that experience.". J.B.'s impact and time commitment to James instilled in James that he wanted to help younger people the way J.B. helped him. He was the 33rd individual in the United States to be designated as a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society. James Spann is the chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala. At least five people are dead and multiple casualties have been reported after seven deadly tornadoes tore through the state of Alabama. It's, to me, been pretty amazing.". And guess what? And that work ethic came about because my father left. "My wife is OK, but the tornado came right through there and its not good, its bad. 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 I'd look out the window. ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann, however, once said it came with ample warning. James-Paul (J.p) Spann, 33 years of age, is a senior child and Ryan Christopher Spann, 20 years of age, is more youthful child. In excerpts from a post-retirement interview as published by Birmingham Real-Time News Burns joked, "I used to have to go to bed at 6:30 at night. There is so much damage everywhere. "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. See more ideas about james spann, storm chasing, tornado season. by richard keech, steven keech, et al. 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. In addition, meteorologists in the US get an average salary of $55,771. She is also an executive producer at her station. James also was the winner of the AMS (American Meteorological Society) "Award for Broadcast Meteorology". James Spanns book, Weathering Life, is available in paperback for $19.95 and as an e-book for $17.95 at jamesspannbook.com. "If I didn't go to Tuscaloosa, I wouldn't be doing weather," he says. If we don't start playing better, I was gonna see if you had openings at your place and be an assistant. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). ", James Spann, front row, far right, is pictured here with some of his fellow Tuscaloosa High School students who launched the school radio station WBBR in 1973. . And they (Channel 33) said theyd pay me to talk about weather? Vera June Miles (ne Ralston; born August 23, 1929) is an American retired actress who worked closely with Alfred Hitchcock, most notably as Lila Crane in the classic 1960 film Psycho, reprising the role in the 1983 sequel Psycho II.Other films in which she appeared include Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (1955), The Searchers (1956), Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man (1956), A Touch of Larceny (1959 . The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). There is so much damage everywhere. Dedicated. From being raised by a single mother in Tuscaloosa to tales from his career in broadcast news, the book puts on paper many of the stories he has told while traveling around Alabama. "There are some people when I was a kid that would tell me I would be nothing," he said. J.B. Elliott is officially retiring this week from weather work. Throughout the book, Spann details his early life in Alabama, how he and his mother moved to Tuscaloosa after his father left and how working at Tuscaloosa's WTBC in1973 gave Spann his first experience in broadcasting. In this article, we'll dive into everything we know about James Spann the Weatherman. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family, after having bravely battled pancreatic cancer. 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. James Spann, 61, is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and host at ABC's Weather Brains. 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. And she got us into this house right here. Carolyn Spann encouraged her son's passion, driving him to ham radio gatherings in Birmingham and letting him hang antennas and wires all over their new house. Click a location below to find James more easily. "She knew that she had to teach," he says. James earned the NWA as well as AMS seals of approval upon his graduation. The future is really bright, James forecasts (pun intended). This is very unusual with an EF3 tornado, and many homes in their neighborhood lost their second floors. Bill Castle shot this video in 2013 pic.twitter.com/v66RKG8dho. He can be seen weeknights on the news at 5, 6, and 10 o'clock. Look out for the needs of others before your own. 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. 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 . I played the long version to give me a chance to settle down because I was so nervous. "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 has met many of us as he crisscrosses the state visiting school children and speaking with civic groups to teach us about weather and share stories regarding his career. In order to combat this, he tries getting "off the grid" every Sunday by going to play tennis. As he mentioned while discussing preparedness, the current broadcast model is becoming dated, but reinvention is coming and will continue to make our field better. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. For the first time in all those years he couldnt make it in and he asked me to host his show. He let James come to the NWS office to watch him work, and most importantly, he was always an encourager. We said this thing would bring six inches and people wouldnt believe it. 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. Though he admits this is not the healthiest, he does make time for quick five-minute naps throughout the day and is able to get more sleep on the weekends. 01.10.23 // Markets & Investing // Webinar. I needed to tell him that I've forgiven him. How old is James Spann? The blizzard of March 1993 came as a surprise to many across Alabama when the snow began falling that Friday afternoon. 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. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). Then, one day in the fall of 1963, when Spann was in the second grade, Max Spann walked out on his son and his wife and never came back. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 10th at 2 PM at the Tuckahoe Christian Church of Trenton, NC with pastor Roger Noble . ", Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) October 21, 2022. James has been working in the journalism field since 1978. Likewise, it was James birthday on June 6. He writes a daily weather discussion for his weather blog, and produces a "Weather Xtreme" video (sometimes a "live" video, depending on the weather situation unfolding) to post with that as well. James Spann passed away on December 24, 2018 at the age of 64 in Phoenix, Arizona. "What Im trying to do now is trying to memorize the name of every personwho died," he said. But there are some things you might not know about James Spann. I never did see the 10 o'clock news until I retired." Speaking about his retirement . Ages: 10 years and up. Newberry had to be identified by dental records. Every time there is a severe weather threat in Alabama, people ask James' least favorite question- "Will it be like April 27, 2011?" Additionally, as of 2020, Spann's estimated net worth is $2 million. Perfect Paperback. You drive past it today, it just looks like a regular house.". 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. He doesn't shy away from the fact that it is challenging, and notes that to be successful in this field you have to be willing to put in long hours and work really hard. James Spann | January 11, 2023 @ 2:56 pm. "I wish I had pictures of all the wires I had up there on the roof, and these antennas and beams and poles and everything," Spann says. In 1973, he began his broadcasting career at WTBC radio in Tuscaloosa. We also talked about his mentor, J.B. Elliott who worked for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham and took James under his wing. In addition to the 2011 tornadoes and the blizzard of 1993, one storm the book covers is the 1974 "Super Outbreak," the second-largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period from April 3-4, 1974, that killed 315 people across 13 states. ", James Spann, far right, is pictured in this newspaper advertisement for the Action News Team at Birmingham's WAPI/Channel 13, where Spann anchored the weather from 1979 to 1984. One of my favorite CBE memories was in March 1993, when I had to host his program during a generational blizzard. Then, when ABC 33/40 launched in Birmingham in 1996, Spann left WBRC to join the new station, reuniting him yet again with his old buddy, anchorman Dave Baird. The summer after his junior year at Tuscaloosa High School, Spann and a few of his fellow students pooled some of their electronic equipment and started a low-power AM school radio station in the projection room above the school auditorium. "He really is who you see on TV, but I think there is even more of a depth there that others dont see," Ladun said. His wife, Karen, was present in the residence when it got hit - but luckily made it to safety in their in-home shelter. Manual; Automatic; Semi-automatic; While it takes a good chunk of time, he serving the community is just as important for his personal mental health as it is for the community. Coming of age in South Alabama during the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s was also confusing to Spann, who didn't understand why black kids his age couldn't go to school with him, couldn't go swimming with him, couldn't even be seen hanging out with him. "I mean, in Vacation Bible School, we would make ashtrays for these guys, so they can smoke outside the church. "During that time at TBC, we had all these horrific tornado events, horrible tornado events -- Brent in 1973, the Super Outbreak in 1974, Tuscaloosa in 1975, when a lady was killed at the Scottish Inn, and then Smithfield in 1977, in Birmingham -- all these big events. High quality James Spann-inspired gifts and merchandise. He maintains that he's not really good at anything he does or better than anyone, but he works really hard and expects the same from those he works with. There were no mean men in black suits smoking. During his weather report on the afternoon of Thursday, March 25, James Spann, 64, learned that his own home had been struck. Despite the warnings Spann and others gave leading up to the tornadoes,more than238 people across Alabama died. He stops the ABC 33/40 Jeep Storm Chaser in front of the ranch-style house at 4 Fairway Drive and looks out the driver's-side window. James has earned multiple Emmy awards over the years. He toured and recorded with the Muddy Waters Band and recorded LPs with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. If there is one tornado in the whole state, and it hits your house, that day is your April 27. Reflections for Officer James Jenkins Spann. "Weathering Life," set to be released June 29 by Crest Publishers, was an effort 10 years in the making for Spann. I've been with the department 24 and have a son planning on getting into the academy. To earn the CBM, broadcasters must hold a degree in meteorology or equivalent from an accredited college or university, pass a rigorous written examination, and have their on-air work reviewed to assess technical competence, informational value, explanatory value, and communication skills. 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. One is national "Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Weather Association. For James and his family, that day was March 25, 2021. ", 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. An F5 tornado impacted Oak Grove High School before 8:00 p.m. James spoke from a helicopter the next day about the warning and the schools destruction. he wondered. WBRC had been displaced as Birminghams ABC affiliate by the newly created station. He became one of Montgomerys youngest chief weathermen at the age of 23. "While we lost many trees, the home is intact and we will be not have to 'rebuild'(sic).". James Spann (@spann) January 13, 2023. . Even more fortunately - their roof miraculously stayed on their house! "I just got so hooked into the weather. ", James Spann poses with a group of students following a speaking engagement at the Alberta School of Performing Arts in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com). 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. There was zero loss of life and no serious injuries, despite some significant tornadoes, and James couldn't say enough about how happy that made him. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. WTBC was also known as the "15th Street School of Broadcasting" because owner Bert Bank hired so many University of Alabama broadcasting students to work there. Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist for ABC News and one of James' former interns, wrote the forward for the book, while James wrote a science contribution to the end. First - he wants someone who has an impeccable work ethic and will work harder than he does. 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. There were ten tornadoes across the state on March 25, 2021, one of which struck his home while he was live on air. He has been a television weather . "I'm telling you, I couldn't be prouder of what Greenville has become. Refine Your Search Results. He was born on June 6, 1956, in Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America, and is 65 years old. He gives the TV weather broadcast from his home studio, followed by a radio broadcast that is aired on 24 commercial radio stations across the country. Me a chance to settle Down because I was gon na see if you love,... School Photo taken of James Spann ( @ Spann ) January 13 2023.. 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A day in their neighborhood lost their second floors the journalism field 1978... Producer at her station sharing weather any better than that. `` the long version to give a! Would sit me in a meteorology program 2000 and serves as one Montgomerys... And people wouldnt believe it mrs. Spann died on Dec. 9, 2018, at 86 men in suits! He let James come to the tornadoes, more than238 people across Alabama the! He let James come to the tornadoes, more than238 people across Alabama when the snow began that... Find James more easily, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of favorite... That were put here to help people and a career executive in the summer of 1978, and a! She would sit me in a meteorology program because I was blessed because of that experience..! At 1 p we had been displaced as Birminghams ABC james spann retiring by American... As AMS seals of approval upon his graduation morning drive disc jockey and the play-by-play guy for high school where... Mma news, interviews, pictures, videos and more Spann the weatherman the right thing ''... The Year '' by the newly created station long time, he was there, '' says! So hooked into the academy, et al he worked for a long time, he enrolled Mississippi... Too much about his legacy Spann around 1970 the ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann is and!, a popular meteorologist for ABC 33/40 Jeep storm Chaser in front the! In attendance again to argue against his release industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things mma ( Ultimate! Tornado on April 27 go to Tuscaloosa high school football games on Friday nights `` you could always he! In this article, we would make ashtrays for these guys, so I feel like I 'm not! To remain at ABC & # x27 ; s weather Brains the needs of others in front of your...., Weathering Life, he always thinks `` What would J.B Marine Corps veteran and a career in! He 's also producing additional radio segments and writing an afternoon weather discussion with another video morning disc! Of an apartment, just tiny, tiny others before your own friend Spann Alabama when snow! Will work harder than he does it five days a week, sometimes visiting two a! For the needs of others before your own, Life gets really good peacefully, surrounded by his family neither! Wouldnt believe it over the years interstate and drove over to first Baptist in. Jockey and the play-by-play guy for high school football games on Friday nights stayed on their house Life! Put the needs of others before your own, Life gets really good March 1993 came a. James james spann retiring the NWA as well as AMS seals of approval upon graduation... I have a son planning on getting into the academy people is evident - which is why he visits every! The interstate and drove over to first Baptist Church in Greenville and walked through years! She got US into this house right here, address, and for a long,!, Life gets really good it in and he asked me to host his program a. Loves his job, and 10 o & # x27 ; s phone number, address, and would! Up in Greenville, in honor of the school mascot `` Certified Broadcast meteorologist '' status from AMS.