James Spann is a television meteorologist and podcast host in Birmingham, Alabama. James talked highly of the next generation, praising the younger and upcoming workforce as brilliant with outstanding work ethics. But, if Saban ever does decide to retire? James is the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40. There is massive importance to integrity. Pre-COVID, he visited 1-2 schools a day, and though he can't be there in-person right now, he's continuing to connect with the community virtually. As James called out communities in north Shelby County where the tornado was passing, he listed his own neighborhood, saying the torando was heading towards the home he built with Karen in Birmingham. ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann, however, once said it came with ample . "She knew that she had to teach," he says. . "How in the world my mama pulled this deal off, I don't know. 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, Birminghams ABC affiliate. In all, James has been a television weather . He hosts the weekly podcast known as WeatherBrains which he began airing in 2006. by James Spann weather tornados storms hurricanes snow ice radar | Jan 1, 2016. "When you put the needs of others in front of your own, life gets really good. "I don't think he ever knew it was me," he says. Did we use terms that people didn't understand?". James has received the two highest awards in the nation for a broadcast meteorologist. Bill Castle shot this video in 2013 pic.twitter.com/v66RKG8dho. $7.50 delivery Jan 19 - 24 . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. When I was a kid, I thought it was a mansion. However, just because the state might not experience a massive outbreak as it did on that day, all it takes is one tornado. Spann says he has fond memories of a father who went fishing with him and who took him to see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. 2023 www.tuscaloosanews.com. About Saturday Down South | Ethics and Editorial Standards | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Other Conferences: Big Ten | ACC | Pac-12, A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 14 SEC football teams. "That's very motivating for me.". ", 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. Nick Saban is a noted Weather Channel aficionado and was joined by meteorologist James Spann for his Thursday evening radio show this week. We've come a long way thoughthinking back ten years ago, 252 Alabamians (342 total across the country) died during the April 27, 2011 "Super Outbreak." I woke him up to get him to help me out., Burns, in a 2013 video, recalled asking Spann to start his early morning show with his signature mule call.. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). Not long after his father left them, Spann and his mother moved to her family's home in Ashville, in St. Clair County, but they came back to Greenville a year later. While still a student at the University of Alabama studying electrical engineering, James began working as a disc jockey at WTBC-AM in Tuscaloosa while still a student at the University of Alabama. 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. James Spann pulls off Tuscaloosas Hargrove Road and turns onto an old, familiar street. Since 1996, Spann has served as chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 and is known for winning the award of Best Weather Anchor in Alabama thirteen times. "Those things in your life shape you.". James loves working with his interns, and says he looks for three key qualities when choosing anyone who works with him. "That's my home. "And the other good thing about it, I'm very motivated not to be like him," he adds. 14h. There were ten tornadoes across the state on March 25, 2021, one of which struck his home while he was live on air. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Abilene Police Department, Texas. [2] Earlly in his career, spann studied electrical engineering at UA while paying for his tuition while working in radio. Even more fortunately - their roof miraculously stayed on their house! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The blizzard of March 1993 came as a surprise to many across Alabama when the snow began falling that Friday afternoon. "While we lost many trees, the home is intact and we will be not have to 'rebuild'(sic).". He was born James Max Spann Jr. on June 6, 1956, in Huntsville, Alabama, in the United States of America. James Spann's coverage of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. Its bad.". ", As she assessed the destruction she remarked: "It's unbelievable! Smith Lumber Company in nearby Chapman. ", This is a school photo taken of James Spann around 1970. He wanted to write a book for kids who loved science and weather, but also a book that addressed fear by giving valuable information to overcome that fear and not scare them. Follow on, Paul Finebaum addresses the defensive coordinator candidate that would satisfy Crimson Tide fans, Micah DeBose, 2025 4-star OT, announces SEC commitment, Deion Sanders draws rave reviews from fans on social media after appearing on MNF ManningCast, Rapid Reaction: Back-to-back! He actually published a book, "All You Can Do Is Pray" on the ten year anniversary in order to preserve the day, including everything from the insides of working in a weather office to the untold stories of the victims. 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. He is also the host of the weekly podcast WeatherBrains, which he started in 2006. James earned the NWA as well as AMS seals of approval upon his graduation. His mother, Carolyn, worked as a secretary at Greenville High School, and his father sold lumber for the W.T. which is such a beautiful legacy for someone to have left behind. Carolyn Spann had promised her son that she would get them a bigger place to live, and two years later, after she finished her degree and started teaching English at Tuscaloosa High School, they moved into that house on Fairway Drive. But I will work harder than anybody else to accomplish a goal. If there is one tornado in the whole state, and it hits your house, that day is your April 27. They knew I couldn't afford a ham radio, but they would give me their old equipment to use.". . Whether it's dealing with trolls on social media or suffering from PTSD after a traumatic weather event, the job can be quite challenging, and it's refreshing to see such a focus being put on mental health. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but a technicality in the law led Spann to get life in prison with the possibility of parole. 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. Spann has been working in the journalism field since 1978. Spann went before the parole board for the first time in 2018. Officer James Jenkins Spann. After the tornadoes hit Jasper, Alabama in 1974, James volunteered for many hours. The obituary was featured in . His philosophy is simple and focuses on doing three simple things to achieve financial . The blizzard of March 1993 came as a surprise to many across Alabama when the snow began falling that Friday afternoon. James referenced his friend, Rick Smith (a Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Norman, Oklahoma), who has done a lot of work to improve mental health in meteorology. Every time there is a severe weather threat in Alabama, people ask James' least favorite question- "Will it be like April 27, 2011?" James Spann's YouTube channel! In 1985, the Dallas Press Club named him the best weathercaster in the Metroplex, beating out strong competition like Harold Taft of KXAS-TV and Troy Dungan of WFAA-TV. "These are my people," he likes to say. 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. Spann, who studied electrical engineering at UA, paid for his college tuition while working at WTBC, where he stayed for five years and worked his way up to program director before he got an offer to join Tuscaloosa TV station WCFT/Channel 33 in 1978. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Karen told her husband: "Oh, it's a miracle. Fortunately he and his wife have a severe weather plan in place, and she was in their safe place when it struck. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). 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. "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. NEW! I picked up the phone and as soon as I heard his voice I knew who it was. And they would sit out there on the front steps of the church and they would say these horrible things. 40 people named James Spann found in Nashville, Chattanooga and 3 other cities. Julien Saunders of Rich and Regular talks about how he and his wife give back Episode 2172: When, Why and How We Give by Julien Saunders Julien and Kiersten started rich & REGULAR in 2017 after their stint in real estate investing led them to discover the F.I.R.E movement. 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. OU alumnus James Spann is founder and managing partner of Norman-based Boyd Street Ventures. 4241 Jutland Dr #202, San Diego, CA 92117. James spent his early childhood in Greenville, a small town in southern Alabama, and though this part of his journey will not be shared in today's blog, I think it's something many will resonate with. 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