KTVT's First Meteorologist Dead At Age 90

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Former KTVT-TV Meteorologist Howard McNeil, known as "The Old Weatherbird," died Saturday at the age of 90.

McNeil, of Fort Worth, was the first forecaster for Channel 11 when it signed on as an independent station in 1955.

He worked at the station until 1963, moving across town to work at another station before returning in 1967.

McNeil presented the weather on KTVT's 15 minute newscasts during the 60's and 70's, retiring from the station in 1981.

According to McNeil's family, he was born October 24, 1920. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Klaas, in 1943.

McNeil was accepted into the Air Weather Service during World War II, which provided worldwide weather reporting and forecasting for the Air Force and the Army. He became a high-altitude forecaster.

He left the military in the early 1950s to join a private meteorological company.  A 1955 presentation to business and civic leaders in the DFW area led the former owner of channel 11 to offer McNeil a job as the station's first Meteorologist.

McNeil leaves behind his wife, two sons, four granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.