Gary England, chief meteorologist for Oklahoma City CBS affiliate KWTV, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

England has worked at KWTV since October 1972. His induction into the Hall will take place November 7, 2013.

The Oklahoma Hall of Fame has inducted names like noted author Ralph Ellison, radio announcer Paul Harvey, and Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench. Inductees get their names along with a bust and a portrait displayed at the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. They also get granite monuments in the Heritage Plaza at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Meteorologist David Payne is switching stations in Oklahoma City, according to The Oklahoman. Payne, who has worked at NBC affiliate KFOR for 19 years, is set to join CBS affiliate KWTV.

Payne announced the news Friday on his KFOR Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have since been taken down. The Oklahoman reports that Payne will be the eventual successor to KWTV chief meteorologist Gary England, who recently celebrated his 40th anniversary at the station.

Payne, KFOR’s morning meteorologist, was last on the air November 30.

There’s little doubt Gary England can lay claim to being the most experienced meteorologist in Oklahoma City.  England celebrates 40 years with Oklahoma City’s KWTV this month.

England started with the CBS affiliate in October 1972 and is credited with being the first first person in history to use Doppler radar to issue weather warnings to the public.  He also made a cameo appearance in Steven Spielberg’s “Twister” and has a bust honoring him as one of Oklahoma’s “100 Heroes and Outlaws” celebrating the state’s first hundred years.

The station put up a web page inviting viewers to leave their comments for Gary.  You can click here to view Gary’s tribute page.  The page also hosts several videos of various local celebrities and co-workers offering their congratulations to England.  You can watch one starring evening anchor Kelly Ogle as well as a video the station made for England’s 35th anniversary after the jump: Read more

As a blizzard swept through Oklahoma in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Oklahoma City stations were there to greet it.

KWTV was the first to begin its local news coverage. The CBS-affiliate began at 3:50 a.m., 40 minutes earlier than its regular start time.

ABC-affiliate KOCO and Fox-affiliate KOKH began at 4:00 a.m. For KOCO, that was a half-hour early; for KOKH, it was a full hour.

NBC-affiliate KFOR was the only station not to make an early start, opening its newscast at the the regularly scheduled time of 4:30 a.m. Read more