Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

70 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine For his exceptional work, Mr. Winterling was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Jacksonville University in 1990. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Broadcast Meteorologist Award for the Development of Animation for Television Weathercasts from the American Meteorological Society, of whom he is also a fellow. The highlight of Mr. Winterling’s career was being at the top of his classes in weather observer andmeteorology schools in themilitary. He is also proud of his 1978 development of the humiture, adding the humidity factor to the temperature. The next year, the National Weather Service began using it, renaming it “Heat Index.” Notably, Mr. Winterling published his book, “Chasing the Wind: Memories of a Pioneer TV Meteorologist” in 2018, where he reflects on stories from his childhood, as well as his growth over the course of a more than 50-year long career in television and the military. M eteorology came into George Alfred Winterling’s life through his time as a weather observer and forecaster with the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1953. Living by a naval air station during his childhood, Mr. Winterling always held a deep interest in aviation, which eventually led to his destiny in meteorology. After his time with the Air Force, Mr. Winterling received a BS in meteorology from Florida State University in 1957. He was also a student at Oklahoma State University and Jacksonville University. After obtaining his degree, Mr. Winterling began working as a weather forecaster with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, Florida. He spent five years in that role before serving as chief meteorologist for Station WJXT- TV in Jacksonville for more than 40 years. In Mr. Winterling’s first year on air, a powerful nor’easter struck Jacksonville Beach, followed by the city’s coldest temperature since 1899. He says his first reputation was made by forecasting Jacksonville’s first direct hit by a hurricane, Dora, in 1964. After Mr. Winterling’s retirement in 2009, he stayed with the station for an additional five years as a meteorologist emeritus. Additionally, Mr. Winterling was an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University from 1975 to 1994. GEORGE ALFRED WINTERLING BROADCASTER, METEOROLOGIST Station WJXT-TV Jacksonville, FL BUSINESS SERVICES, CONSULTING AND HUMAN RESOURCES