Legendary Cleveland Weatherman Dick Goddard Dead At 89

CLEVELAND — Longtime Fox 8 weatherman Dick Goddard died Tuesday, the station announced. He was 89.

Goddard was a lifelong Ohioan. He was born in Green in 1931 and excelled at baseball and football in high school. He joined the Air Force and, when he returned from service, earned a degree from Kent State University, Fox 8 reported.

Trained as a meteorologist he began broadcasting Cleveland's forecasts in the 1960s. On the side, he served as a statistician for the Cleveland Browns radio broadcasts and founded the Woolybear Festival in the 1970s.

He championed the rights of animals and lobbied lawmakers to pass "Goddard's Law," which increased penalties for mistreating animals.

Goddard retired from Fox 8 in 2016.

The street in front of the Fox 8 station is now dubbed Dick Goddard Way.