Gil Whitney
Gil Whitney (August 18, 1940[1] -November 4, 1982) was an American television weather forecaster notable for warning WHIO-TV viewers and listeners on April 3, 1974 of the tornado that went through Xenia, Ohio in the 1974 multi-tornado event known as the Super Outbreak. Whitney's timely warning specifically identified the Arrowhead neighborhood of Xenia as lying in the path of the tornado (which proved to be correct as Arrowhead was leveled by the F5 twister).[2]
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Career
Gil Whitney worked as a reporter, anchor and later the weatherman for WHIO-TV, in Dayton, Ohio. He also hosted, from the mid to late 70's, a summer late-night show on Friday nights called Summertime. The show guest starred local talent and other TV, movie and radio personalities. In 1980, the show was renamed The Gil Whitney Show.
He was a regular on the community parade circuit, acted as master of ceremonies for numerous public events, was a volunteer firefighter and was one of the founders of the Dayton Air Show.[3]
[edit] Marriage and children
Whitney and his wife Mary had three children together:
- Gil Whitney Jr (b. 1963), a filmmaker[4]
- John, a filmmaker (b. 1964)
- Jennifer (b. 1967)
[edit] Death and afterward
Whitney died November 4, 1982, at the age of 42, of Hodgkins lymphoma.
[edit] Awards
- 2005: Dayton, Ohio Broadcasters Hall Of Fame inductee[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Birth date from SSDI. Gilman Whitney.
- ^ Simpson, Jamie (2004-03-31). "Radar provides life-saving warnings of tornadoes. It should be stated that Whitney was responsible for saving hundreds of lives by giving an early warning to the residents of Xenia.". Dayton Daily News. http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/project/tornado/daily/0331jamie.html.
- ^ Huffman, Dale (1993-08-15). "Whitney brothers' forecast sunny". Dayton Daily News: p. 1B.
- ^ Gil Whitney film and video services - Columbus Ohio Videographer and Video Production - Videography - Lighting for Film and Video - Editing - Camera Rentals - DVD Duplication - Commercials - Events - Corporate Video
- ^ "2005 Hall Of Fame Inductees". Dayton, Ohio Broadcasters Hall Of Fame. http://www.daytonbroadcasthalloffame.com/DaytonBHOF2005%20Inductees.html.
