Joe Calhoun

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Joe Calhoun
Born (1959-10-12) October 12, 1959 (age 65)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPenn State University
OccupationTelevision meteorologist
Years active1982–2024
Employer(s)WGAL (Lancaster, PA)
SpouseDenise Calhoun
Children4
AwardsSeal of Approval from NWS (1984), Induction at Mid-Silver Circle Emmy Awards (2024)

Joe Calhoun is a retired American television meteorologist and weather journalist. He had a 40-year career as a meteorologist forecasting the weather, working for Hearst Television's KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1983 to 1987, and at its sister station WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as chief meteorologist from 1987 to 2024. He was a member of the American Meteorological Society. He was also involved in fundraising for the Salvation Army and WGAL's Coats for Kids Telethon, until he retired from broadcast meteorology. He remains with WGAL, focusing on special projects and other stories, such as WGAL's weather outlook specials for each season every year.[1]

Career

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A Philadelphia native, Calhoun began his career at Freese-Notis Weather company in Des Moines, Iowa after graduating from his alma mater Penn State University,[1] before moving to Hearst Television's KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1983, where he was an on-air meteorologist for the morning and weekend newscasts.[2]

In 1987, he then moved to join sister station WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as a weather anchor, reporter, and meteorologist replacing WGAL weatherman Tony Cavalier.[3] In 1989, following the departure of WGAL chief meteorologist Rob Dixon, Calhoun was promoted to chief meteorologist.[4][5] He provided the weather forecasts for the Susquehanna Valley, which aired on News 8 Today in the mornings and News 8 at Noon.[6] He even got a chance to interview Willard Scott who was visiting the Susquehanna Valley in 1989.

In 2013, following the retirement of WGAL meteorologist Doug Allen, Calhoun was assigned to cover the weather forecasts for News 8 at 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 10, and 11 in the evenings while meteorologist Christine Ferriera took Calhoun's spot in the mornings.[7]

In 2020, Calhoun, with the help of WGAL, set up a studio in a room of his house where he remotely presented the weather due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On January 4, 2024, Calhoun announced his retirement from WGAL after 40 years with the station's parent company, Hearst TV, and 36 years spent at WGAL. His last day was set for January 19, 2024.[9][10][11]

On January 11, 2024, he announced on that day's News 8 Today edition that his friend and colleague Christine Ferriera would be taking his place as chief meteorologist after he retires.[12] After recounting his career at KETV and WGAL for all he did forecasting the weather and guiding WGAL's Storm Team meteorologists along with familiar friends, former colleagues and a surprise visit from Doug Allen all congratulating him on his retirement, Calhoun retired on January 19, 2024.[13]

He returned to WGAL to help celebrate the station's 75th anniversary.[14]

Personal life

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Calhoun is married to his wife Denise Calhoun, and has four children and six grandchildren.[citation needed] He and his son cook as a hobby.[15] Calhoun graduated from Frankford High School in 1976 and Penn State University in 1981. His interest in meteorology began when he went fishing with his father on the Jersey Shore. When Calhoun was a high school student, he took lessons at the Franklin Institute about weather. He examined satellite imagery and maps during his study, which further increased his interest in meteorology.[16] He was an adjunct professor at Millersville University since 1990, where he taught broadcast meteorology in the Department of Earth and Sciences.[17]

Awards and recognition

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In 1984, Calhoun was awarded the Seal of Approval for Television Weathercasting from the National Weather Association.[citation needed] He was a spokesperson for the Salvation Army's public service announcements for WGAL's Coats For Kids telethon.[18][19] In 2024, he was honored by state lawmakers for his 36 years at WGAL.[20] He was inducted into the Silver Circle Society at the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for his 41-year career in broadcast meteorology.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Montag, Madison (January 3, 2024). "Joe Calhoun, WGAL 8 chief meteorologist for 36 years announces retirement". PennLive.
  2. ^ "New Weatherman: Joe Calhoun". Omaha World Herald. July 21, 1983. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Cavalier's replacement named: Joe Calhoun". Intelligencer Journal: 46. August 20, 1987. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  4. ^ "Channel 8 fires weatherman Rob Dixon after 6 years". Intelligencer Journal: 11. March 28, 1989. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  5. ^ Neville, Gabriel (May 5, 1989). "Poor forecasting on WGAL". Lancaster New Era. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  6. ^ "WGAL names meteorologist Joe Calhoun to cover the station's morning and noon weather". The Daily News. August 27, 1987. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  7. ^ "WGAL makes changes to weather team: Joe Calhoun is moved to the evenings, Christine Ferriera to take Calhoun's position in the mornings". TVNewsCheck. October 28, 2013. 28 October 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  8. ^ Balderston, Michael (November 17, 2020). "TVU Networks Supplies Gear for WGAL Remote Weather Broadcasts". TV Tech.
  9. ^ Montag, Madison (4 January 2024). "Joe Calhoun announces retirement". PennLive. January 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Jones, Scott (January 5, 2024). "Signing Off in PA". FTVLive.
  11. ^ Adams, Sean (January 18, 2024). "What's next for retiring weatherman Joe Calhoun? Family, sports, and more forecasts". PennLive.
  12. ^ "WGAL 8 promotes Christine Ferriera to Chief Meteorologist". WGAL. January 11, 2024. 11 January 2024.
  13. ^ "News 8 celebrates retiring Chief Meteorologist Joe Calhoun". WGAL. January 19, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  14. ^ "WGAL celebrates 75 years, former anchors return". WGAL. March 18, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Calhoun: Chef with local ties beats Bobby". LNP Always Lancaster. December 27, 2021. 27 December 2021.
  16. ^ Walters, Mark (January 29, 2011). "Weatherman Joe Calhoun's job is looking up, science and story". Gettysburg Times.
  17. ^ "Meteorology: Commemorating Joe Calhoun's legendary career". Millersville University.
  18. ^ "Cleaners slate Coats for Kids Campaign". The Gettysburg Times. November 13, 1989. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "'Coats for Kids' is under way". The Ephrata Review. November 8, 2000. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  20. ^ "Retired News 8 meteorologist Joe Calhoun honored by state lawmakers". WGAL. March 20, 2024 – via Yahoo News.
  21. ^ "Silver Circle Society - NATAS Mid-Atlantic Chapter". NATAS Mid-Silver Circle Society.