Roy Leep
Encyclopedia
Roy Leep was a longtime meteorologist with television
station WTVT
in Tampa, Florida
. He graduated with a degree in meteorology from Florida State University
in the mid 1950s.
Leep joined WTVT's weather department in August 1957, was granted the seal of approval (#10) from the American Meteorological Society in 1958, became the chief meteorologist for the station in 1959 and retired in 1997. In 1959, Leep's team installed Florida's first radar unit used exclusively by a TV station, and he is considered a pioneer in weather forecasting. His "Radar Weather Eye" remained the only radar used by a Florida television station for ten years. His weather department was used as a model for hundreds of television stations all over the country looking to begin or modernize their weather departments.
Leep, one of the most well-known television broadcasters in the Tampa Bay
area, kept WTVT ahead of the competition by constantly upgrading equipment. He was first with color radar, first with satellite weather, first with Doppler and was considered one of the most trusted meteorologists in America for many years.
On January 16, 1977, he was the only Tampa Bay area meteorologist to predict snow for the following morning. Against all odds and before the eyes of a dumbfounded competition, the snow came, closing schools, the area's Interstate Highway System and many businesses. Prior to that date, it had not snowed in Tampa for over 50 years.
For over 15 years, Leep closed his 11p.m. weather program by displaying "Scud," his Scottish Terrier
, in various canine sports and evening wear. Scud became an area celebrity and was mourned when she died in 2003.
During his career he created the WTVT Weather Service, which performed special weather prediction missions for private agricultural and other business interests in Central Florida
. The service was a source of additional income for the station. This was the only commercial weather service in Central Florida and Leep's colleagues credited his accuracy for its success with clients who could have easily relied upon the U.S. Weather Bureau.
He retired in 1997 after 40 years of service to the station. The ultra-modern weather center at WTVT was named "The Roy Leep Weather Facility". He now lives with his wife in North Tampa near the University of South Florida
.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station WTVT
WTVT
WTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the News Corporation...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. He graduated with a degree in meteorology from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in the mid 1950s.
Leep joined WTVT's weather department in August 1957, was granted the seal of approval (#10) from the American Meteorological Society in 1958, became the chief meteorologist for the station in 1959 and retired in 1997. In 1959, Leep's team installed Florida's first radar unit used exclusively by a TV station, and he is considered a pioneer in weather forecasting. His "Radar Weather Eye" remained the only radar used by a Florida television station for ten years. His weather department was used as a model for hundreds of television stations all over the country looking to begin or modernize their weather departments.
Leep, one of the most well-known television broadcasters in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
area, kept WTVT ahead of the competition by constantly upgrading equipment. He was first with color radar, first with satellite weather, first with Doppler and was considered one of the most trusted meteorologists in America for many years.
On January 16, 1977, he was the only Tampa Bay area meteorologist to predict snow for the following morning. Against all odds and before the eyes of a dumbfounded competition, the snow came, closing schools, the area's Interstate Highway System and many businesses. Prior to that date, it had not snowed in Tampa for over 50 years.
For over 15 years, Leep closed his 11p.m. weather program by displaying "Scud," his Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
, in various canine sports and evening wear. Scud became an area celebrity and was mourned when she died in 2003.
During his career he created the WTVT Weather Service, which performed special weather prediction missions for private agricultural and other business interests in Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
. The service was a source of additional income for the station. This was the only commercial weather service in Central Florida and Leep's colleagues credited his accuracy for its success with clients who could have easily relied upon the U.S. Weather Bureau.
He retired in 1997 after 40 years of service to the station. The ultra-modern weather center at WTVT was named "The Roy Leep Weather Facility". He now lives with his wife in North Tampa near the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
.