Lee Gordon says farewell to Channel 13

COLUMBIA — Lee Gordon, KRCG/Channel 13 weather forecaster, is leaving the television station after 53 years. The dean of mid-Missouri weather forecasters announced his retirement at noon Monday on KRCG News. June 30 will be his last working day with KRCG, but he plans to continue his involvement with the station in the future.

In April 1955, a few weeks after KRCG went on the air, a young Gordon started his career as the station’s newscast anchor. In the fall of 1956, he began weather forecasting and continued anchoring the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. weather forecasts for 12 years.

Mid-Missouri viewers may remember his role as Santa Claus on “Showtime,” a children’s program, and his role in the 1970s as “The Count,” a vampire host of the station’s “Tales of Terror” program.

When he returned to work after taking a break from 1980 to 1988, he became KRCG News’ weather forecaster at noon.

Gordon was born in Jefferson City and has been a part of the mid-Missouri community for years.

KRCG News Director Gregg Palermo has worked with Gordon for about five years.

“He is an institution,” Palermo said. “One of the great men of local television. I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve worked with him. He’s a great guy to work with. He’s a real asset to everything we do.”

Palermo said he instantly recognized the type of man Gordon was when he met him.

“You knew the moment you met him he was a living example of our station’s and our community’s history,” Palermo said.