GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — He just might have the most expansive tie collection at the station, if not all West Michigan. And after more than 40 years with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, Chief Meteorologist George Lessens is ready to retire.
George is an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, a thirteen-time MAB® Weathercast Award Winner, a two-time EMMY® Award Winner, a NATAS® Silver Circle Award Winner, and a Weather-Ready Nation® Ambassador.
Most recently, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the AMS, the Charles L. Mitchell Award for Outstanding Service by a Forecaster, considered by many a career-capper.
13 ON YOUR SIDE Program and Community Director Catherine Behrendt penned this letter to the Scientific and Technological Activities Commission Members and AMS Council that best encapsulates his career:
“After more than 40 years in the broadcasting industry, nearly all of them spent in his childhood hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, George’s name is synonymous with accuracy and trust. He actually grew up in the small town of Lowell, a suburb of Grand Rapids where, at the age of seven, he experienced the infamous 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes. At the time, it was the largest tornado outbreak in modern U.S. history. George watched the skies that day, with tornado sirens blaring, then watched the coverage on WZZM 13 later that evening. He was so fascinated he said he wanted to be a ‘storm chaser’ or meteorologist from that moment. I have heard George share this story several times over the years and I know the fascination and desire to learn is just as fresh today as it was back in 1965.
Having accomplished that goal, George has devoted his career to providing forecasts for television, radio, and print, advising people when severe weather threatens, whether it is safe to take the boat out on the Big Lake, when farmers should plant their crops, and whether Michigan is going to serve-up a well-deserved, picture-perfect day. He’s won countless awards for all of that, but George’s commitment goes well beyond his forecasts. His service to the profession is impressive. He’s participated in research that brought a greater understanding of the use of satellite imagery to learn about thunderstorm initiation. He’s taught meteorology on the college level and mentored meteorology students. He’s trained a legion of amateur “weather watchers” to be his eyes and ears in the furthest reaches of our viewing area. Since earning the treasured AMS Seal, George has given back there, too, having served on the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. As a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador for more than a decade, George has worked alongside NOAA to better prepare our nation for extreme weather, water, and climate events. He’s coalesced Meteorologists in Michigan around the idea of consistent messaging when it comes to severe weather alerts. He even changed the color palette on the WZZM weather maps to better serve people who experience color-blindness. George’s work has honored the great history and traditions of his profession, served the current needs of our viewers, and enriched the future of his industry by teaching and training future meteorologists.
It doesn’t need to be stated. Meteorology isn’t easy, especially when forecasting adjacent to the largest of the Great Lakes, where weather systems can change on a moment’s notice. It requires a level of vigilance and expertise that is often underappreciated. A meteorologist is greeted like a hero when the weather is good and the forecast is on-target, but miss it by a few raindrops or a couple of clouds, and people can turn on you! George welcomes the critique and holds himself accountable to viewers. WZZM has done on-target weather for decades, actually using a target graphic to show how accurate the forecast has been, from a bullseye to a 'try again.' Public scrutiny is one thing. To scrutinize and score your own work in front of viewers is quite another."
This isn’t a goodbye just yet.
As he’s always done through the years, you’ll be able to connect and wish George well at various events and festivals this spring, summer and fall.
13 ON YOUR SIDE will share more details about those as soon as they are available.
His last day on-air will be in December.
FIRST FORECAST
George joined 13 ON YOUR SIDE on Nov. 17, 1980.
He doesn’t quite remember his first day at 13 ON YOUR SIDE. But he does remember his first day on air, which was a complete surprise.
“It was on Thanksgiving. It was a surprise. I was living with my parents at the time out in Lowell because I didn’t have an apartment yet and the phone rings at 3 o’clock in the morning on Thanksgiving Day,” George remembers.
“My mom answers the phone, comes in and wakes me up and says, ‘You need to go into work, someone called in sick,’ and I went, ‘Um, Ok.’ Did that, came home to Thanksgiving dinner. Later on, my mom says you’re going to have to find your own apartment because I am not answering the phone at 3 in the morning.”
STAYING WITH 13 ALL THROUGH THE YEARS
Juliet Dragos and George have so many memories together, and they both share an uncommon path: sticking with one station for most of their career.
“We have been at the same station for decades. That doesn’t happen anymore in local TV,” Juliet said.
“I don’t know if there’s a secret.. You just have to get along. And be on top of your game. Understand the news product. And who you work with. Just be kind. Be gentle. Be smart,” George said.
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