Autographed hardback book:  Friday Night in the Big Town, the Life of Gary England.  For more than 35 years Gary England has warmed the hearts of television audiences with his small town charm and wit and suberb knowledge of Oklahoma’s quick changing and life threatening weather. 

In the midst of predicting the next day’s weather, Gary’s humor made him welcome in viewers’ homes.  Two expressions became famous.  “We’ll keep you advised” gave listeners confidence that Gary and his staff were on top of the current weather and would warn them should damaging weather be headed their way.  His reference to “Friday night in the big town” reminded listeners that Gary grew up in the tiny western Oklahoma community of Seiling.

Gary’s innovations, developed for Oklahoma, are now common tools for weather forcasting throughout the United States.  In 1981, Gary became the first meteorologist to use Doppler radar for direct public warnings.  In 1990, he developed First Warning, an automated severe weather warning system that provides instant weather warning maps in the corner of the television screen.  The following year, Gary created StormTracker, a system that projected the path of storms and the time of their arrival.  That system is now used nationwide. 

Gary has appeared in more than 50 national and international severe weather programs. Gary was an Oklahoma institution long before his cameo appearance in the movie, “Twister,” and his Emmy award winning performances as one of the nation’s most trusted and revered meteorologists.  Despite his worldwide recognition as a weather expert, Gary has never lost his small town heart.  People will tell you he is the same in person as on television.  He really means it when he says, “It’s Friday night in the big town.”