Another Well Known Figure Among Us !!

Blue Thunder · 03-13-2009, 11:48 AM

If you didn't see it on WBZ, here is the link to a nice piece by Barry Burbank and the video interview with Mish Michaels is in the upper right hand corner of the page. He's 91 years old and has been married for 68 years!

http://wbztv.com/weatherfeatures/don....2.957787.html

BT

Resident 2B · 03-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

If you didn't see it on WBZ, here is the link to a nice piece by Barry Burbank and the video interview with Mish Michaels is in the upper right hand corner of the page. He's 91 years old and has been married for 68 years!

http://wbztv.com/weatherfeatures/don....2.957787.html

BT

Thanks Blue Thunder for posting this. Don Kent continues to amaze me, and to have him and his wife living here in Laconia! WOW!

What a great video piece. He still sounds the same.

R2B

SteveA · 03-13-2009, 12:08 PM

Wow, this is a trip down memory lane. Our oldest son was born in the big storm, that was on 1/21/78. I seem to remember in was about 20 inches. Just a week or two before the Blizzard of 78.

(EDIT)
(I knew I could find the 1/21/78 storm) http://www.celebrateboston.com/disas...zardof1978.htm

I loved those old clips and hearing Don Kent's voice again was wonderful. Growing up in Saugus, Don Kent was "the weatherman".

He looks real good for 91. What a thrill to have him here in the Lakes Region.

Nice post Phantom and BT.

Long Pine · 03-13-2009, 01:07 PM

Not having grown up in New England, I didn't know who Don Kent was, but when I purchased my home in NH a few years ago, I noticed that there was a nice-looking set of weather instruments (wind direction, wind speed, barometer, etc.) in a wooden case mounted on the wall with connections running up to the roof. It wasn't working anymore, but when I did some research on it (the "Downeaster" name was mentioned on it), I learned that Don Kent had founded this company in the 60s. It was only then that I read his story. Not sure how common these instruments were, but I would love to get them working again.

RI Swamp Yankee · 03-13-2009, 01:22 PM

I remember an interview where Don Kent said something to the effect, after you check all the charts and make all the calculations ALWAYS look out the window before giving an on the air forcast. People don't want to hear is partly cloudy while they are shoveling 6 inches of snow.

Phantom · 03-13-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RI Swamp Yankee

I remember an interview where Don Kent said something to the effect, after you check all the charts and make all the calculations ALWAYS look out the window before giving an on the air forcast. People don't want to hear is partly cloudy while they are shoveling 6 inches of snow.

What made me laugh-- I've said to my wife many a time that I want to be a weatherman, not that I have ANY skills in that area --BUT-- There is no other job where you can be wrong so many times and still get paid!! Wouldn't ya know it -- in the interview Don Kent said it -- almost word for word.

Don -- are you among us in this forum??? fess up!

tis · 03-13-2009, 07:29 PM

I think we all loved Don Kent. He was the best. I don't know anyone who didn't like him.

brk-lnt · 03-13-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Pine

Not having grown up in New England, I didn't know who Don Kent was, but when I purchased my home in NH a few years ago, I noticed that there was a nice-looking set of weather instruments (wind direction, wind speed, barometer, etc.) in a wooden case mounted on the wall with connections running up to the roof. It wasn't working anymore, but when I did some research on it (the "Downeaster" name was mentioned on it), I learned that Don Kent had founded this company in the 60s. It was only then that I read his story. Not sure how common these instruments were, but I would love to get them working again.

Where is your house where the unit is installed?

dpg · 03-13-2009, 10:15 PM

I always thought this was a known fact. Seems I can remember Don Kent giving lakes region weather years ago on some station in the area, no idea which one it was.

upthesaukee · 03-13-2009, 10:57 PM

As a youngster growing up in Reading MA, and hearing Don Kent on "BZ" (why did we have to drop the W?????

), I remember his forecast for one day as being some occasional snow flurries, and the next day he stated he had received a call from a viewer, letting Don know he had shovelled off 15 inches of snow flurries from his driveway.

It was said with a smile, and a reminder to all of us viewers that Nature will do what it wants to do.

Glad he is well.

May the weather people of today do their job with the down to earth genuineness that Don Kent personified.

trfour · 03-13-2009, 11:14 PM

in this weather thread; http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...9757#post59757
Posts, 119-124

michael c · 03-14-2009, 08:53 PM

I remember [sort of ] my 3rd grade class trip .Middleton ,ma. to the boston common for some kind of fair,around 1958 or 1959. there was a new disc jockey in town and he was there to show us around and to get known in the area ,as he had just started with WBZ..He taught me how to milk a cow...his name was Dave Maynard !

03-13-2009, 11:48 AM	#1
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 952 Thanks: 256 Thanked 351 Times in 158 Posts	A True Legend indeed... If you didn't see it on WBZ, here is the link to a nice piece by Barry Burbank and the video interview with Mish Michaels is in the upper right hand corner of the page. He's 91 years old and has been married for 68 years! http://wbztv.com/weatherfeatures/don....2.957787.html BT __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

03-13-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Great Thread ! Wow, this is a trip down memory lane. Our oldest son was born in the big storm, that was on 1/21/78. I seem to remember in was about 20 inches. Just a week or two before the Blizzard of 78. (EDIT) (I knew I could find the 1/21/78 storm) http://www.celebrateboston.com/disas...zardof1978.htm I loved those old clips and hearing Don Kent's voice again was wonderful. Growing up in Saugus, Don Kent was "the weatherman". He looks real good for 91. What a thrill to have him here in the Lakes Region. Nice post Phantom and BT. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown Last edited by SteveA; 03-13-2009 at 06:37 PM. Reason: added information

03-13-2009, 01:07 PM	#4
Long Pine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	Downeaster Weather Instruments Not having grown up in New England, I didn't know who Don Kent was, but when I purchased my home in NH a few years ago, I noticed that there was a nice-looking set of weather instruments (wind direction, wind speed, barometer, etc.) in a wooden case mounted on the wall with connections running up to the roof. It wasn't working anymore, but when I did some research on it (the "Downeaster" name was mentioned on it), I learned that Don Kent had founded this company in the 60s. It was only then that I read his story. Not sure how common these instruments were, but I would love to get them working again.

03-13-2009, 01:22 PM	#5
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	I remember an interview where Don Kent said something to the effect, after you check all the charts and make all the calculations ALWAYS look out the window before giving an on the air forcast. People don't want to hear is partly cloudy while they are shoveling 6 inches of snow. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

03-13-2009, 10:57 PM	#10
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,608 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,478 Thanked 1,984 Times in 1,084 Posts	fond memory As a youngster growing up in Reading MA, and hearing Don Kent on "BZ" (why did we have to drop the W????? ), I remember his forecast for one day as being some occasional snow flurries, and the next day he stated he had received a call from a viewer, letting Don know he had shovelled off 15 inches of snow flurries from his driveway. It was said with a smile, and a reminder to all of us viewers that Nature will do what it wants to do. Glad he is well. May the weather people of today do their job with the down to earth genuineness that Don Kent personified. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

03-13-2009, 07:29 PM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,818 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,471 Times in 1,026 Posts	I think we all loved Don Kent. He was the best. I don't know anyone who didn't like him.

03-13-2009, 10:15 PM	#9
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,618 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	I always thought this was a known fact. Seems I can remember Don Kent giving lakes region weather years ago on some station in the area, no idea which one it was.

03-13-2009, 11:14 PM	#11
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	More About Don Kent.... in this weather thread; http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...9757#post59757 Posts, 119-124 __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

03-14-2009, 08:53 PM	#12
michael c Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I remember [sort of ] my 3rd grade class trip .Middleton ,ma. to the boston common for some kind of fair,around 1958 or 1959. there was a new disc jockey in town and he was there to show us around and to get known in the area ,as he had just started with WBZ..He taught me how to milk a cow...his name was Dave Maynard ! __________________ " Wisdom does not always come with age...sometimes age comes by itself ! "