HOUSTON -- Dr. Neil Frank, KHOU-TV's chief meteorologist for 21 years, signed off for the last time Friday on 11 News at 10 p.m.

“After nearly 15,000 weathercasts you’d think I’d get it right sometime and I’m trying. So, maybe tonight will be that night,” Dr. Frank, joked as he started his final forecast at Ch. 11.

After predicting a warm and sunny day for Saturday, Doc turned his attention to the tropics where Mother Nature seemed to be generating a retirement gift for the man known as TV's foremost expert on hurricanes.

Dr. Frank zoomed in on the remnants of Tropical Storm Alma and noted that while no longer a storm that what was left of it still had a circular motion and appeared to be headed north for the southern Gulf of Mexico.

“I don’t think there is much of a chance it will affect us all the way up here, but I tend to think it will drift a little to the west and maybe toward South Texas,” Doc predicted, followed by his usual, “we’ll have to keep our eye on it.”

At the end of the broadcast Friday, members of the 11 News stage crew gave Doc an ovation and staff members streamed onto the news set to wish him well in his retirement and to have pictures taken with the man who redefined how weather is presented in a newscast.

Doc made the announcement last week in his signature humble style.

"You know, it's just been a mystery to me down through the years why anyone would want to watch a tired, rundown meterologist who's wrong more times than he's right," Dr. Frank said. "And messes around with the king's English every once in awhile... and has a funky haircut. But you have, and I sincerely appreciate all the support I've had through the years."

Yes, that's why we love him.

Doc was honored with a luncheon at the Houstonian Friday and Mayor Bill White declared it "Dr. Neil Frank Day" in Houston.

Don't worry, you'll still be able to catch everyone's favorite weatherman on the air occasionally, because he'll maintain a relationship with KHOU for hurricane coverage and other special weather projects.

Dr. Frank joined KHOU-TV in June 1987 after a successful, 13-year run as the director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

How does a guy work for the National Hurricane Center for 25 years (13 years as director), staring down the eye of “Cat 5” storms, lose hours of sleep in the 11 News Weather Center for more than 20 years, plotting the path of incoming storms and not have one gray hair?" 11 News anchor Greg Hurst said. "Not one!"

From humble beginnings to historic days

From humble beginnings in a small town in Kansas, Dr. Frank has become one of the nation’s most respected experts on hurricanes.  

His career began in the United States Air Force where he trained as a weather officer. After the USAF, he returned to Florida State University for graduate studies.

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

Doc as a summer intern at the National Hurricane Center in the 1960s.

In 1961, Dr. Frank joined the staff of the National Hurricane Center as a forecaster and was named director in 1974. He remains the youngest-named director of the NHC.

During his tenure, Dr. Frank had several international meteorological assignments, including serving as chairman of the International Hurricane Committee that coordinated the hurricane warning procedures for Central and North American countries. He was also a member of an international tropical meteorological experiment conducted off the coast of Africa in 1974.

He has published a variety of papers on tropical meteorology for professional publications and has been featured in such national magazines as Time, Newsweek and National Geographic.

He was awarded first place in the 1989 Texas Press Awards competition for best weathercast.

Dr. Frank has served on the boards of numerous professional associations. He was elected to a three-year term on the council of the American Meteorological Society, the Professional Society for Meteorologists in 1989. Early in 1987, Dr. Frank’s testimony and expertise were called upon when he testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Frank was awarded first place in the 1989 Texas Press Awards competition for Best Weathercast.

Dr. Frank has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Southwestern College in Kansas and a master’s and doctoral degree in meteorology from Florida State University.

Popular speaker

In his free time, Dr. Frank has devoted time to dozens of Houston area businesses, organizations and churches as a speaker.

"I've given almost a thousand talks in the last 21 years, been in over 100 churches," Dr. Frank said. "It's just been a delight to do that."

FAMILY PHOTO

Dr. Neil Frank is retiring to spend more time with his family.

Family man

A native of Kansas, Dr. Frank said he and his wife, Velma, have fallen in love with Houston and will continue to make this their home. They have three grown children and 10 grandchildren.

"He cares about you and cares about me, but more importantly cares about his dear wife Velma, his children and his grandchildren more than anything in his life," 11 Sports Director Giff Nielsen said. "Whether it’s playing golf or boating with the family, his eyes light up telling story after story about his companion and his posterity."

Our loss is his family's gain. Godspeed, Doc. We'll miss you.