Keith Gibson (Courtesy: WCBI-TV)
Keith Gibson, former chief meteorologist at FOX affiliate KEVN in Rapid City, S.D., is now the new chief meteorologist for WCBI-TV, the CBS affiliate for the Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston market.
Gibson’s career has taken him through both Dakotas and the Mississippi Delta, where he once worked at WABG, an ABC affiliate.
Gibson replaces Rob Smith, who’s been at the station for 18 years. A Facebook update on the station’s weather page states Smith is leaving to “concentrate on his studies” as he returns to school, but Smith will be around to fill in from time to time.
Both have the seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society (AMS), but only Gibson is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM). Enough of these acronyms already, huh?
Many viewers have already expressed disappointment on the station’s Facebook fan page about the change, but Smith will stay on as “Chief Meteorologist Emeritus,” according to WCBI’s News Team section.
That title may sound somewhat strange, but South TV News bloggers may remember another well-known chief meteorologist at another station in north Mississippi who got the same title after he semi-retired: former WTVA chief met Dick Rice.
One interesting note: now there are only two Certified Broadcast Meteorologists in Mississippi: Gibson and new WTVA Chief Meteorologist Matt Laubhan, who was hired in March 2011.
WCBI-TV’s website has not indicated when Smith’s last day would be, but we’ve gotten emails saying Gibson has already had some airtime at the station. Congratulations, Keith Gibson!
Our loss in Rapid City SD is your gain: Keith is a fantastic weather guy. Thorough – funny – easy to understand – attention to details. We will miss him.
So sad to see him leave KEVN here at Rapid City, but, as Mollie said “Our loss will be your gain” Best wishes to you, Keith!
Yeah, I miss Keith. I like his side take on weather broadcasting.