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[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

Jim Giles, Former Chief Meteorologist For KOTV Tulsa, Passes Away
KOTV - 12/21/2006 4:56 AM - Updated 12/21/2006 9:16 AM

Longtime News on 6 meteorologist and colleague Jim Giles has passed away.
Jim had been hospitalized for the past week, battling a series of health
problems and struggling to regain strength. Despite a valiant fight and a
determined effort by his doctors, he died shortly before 10:00 PM
Wednesday.

Jim conquered a public bout with congestive heart failure two years ago.
He also conquered cancer in the early 70's. But this latest battle was too
much for him to overcome.

Jim began his distinguished career in the early 60's, serving with the Air
Force in Vietnam as a weather commander at Na Trang weather station.

When he came home, Jim served in the prestigious Severe Storm Forecast
Center in Kansas City. In the late 70's, while teaching meteorology at the
University of Texas, Jim made the move to television in Austin and later
in Dallas. He had an opportunity to continue that career in Dallas, but
fortunately for us, he chose to come to KOTV in Tulsa in 1981 as Chief
Meteorologist, forecasting for both radio and TV, introducing viewers to
live Doppler 6 radar in 1988.

Jim was instrumental in refining that technology. And In 1991, Doppler 6
Pathfinder was key to the precision forecasts that tracked a deadly
tornado north and west of Tulsa.

In 1993, devastating tornadoes swept across northeastern Oklahoma again,
near Catoosa. Jim was able to pinpoint those storms as well, saving
countless lives.

Over the years, Jim devoted time on and off the air to a community project
that became one of his signatures, Giles Coats for Kids. He was involved
in that right up until he became ill most recently.

When asked recently how he'd like to be remembered he said in his usual,
understated way "just for doing a good job". He did a great job. We'll all
miss him, greatly.