On Tuesday, after 43 years with the station Larry left with a simple, “I decided to retire. Effective today.”

Like allot of people on the comment section on The Monitors page about this, I too think something isn’t quite right. If he was ill I’m sure there’d be a proper goodbye, if he was retiring willingly I’m sure there’d also be a proper goodbye.

Why do I give a damn? Well honestly, for as long as I can remember I thought Larry was great as what he did, in fact my first career choice, at the whopping age of 5, was meteorologist… because it not only seemed cool but Larry seemed to have fun doing it.

I could go on and on but I won’t. If Larry left willingly I hope he had a great time, if he was tossed out I hope he kicks some ass and gets a nice retirement package if anything… I’d raise hell.

FROM Larry’s Bio on KGBT’s Site -Which probably wont be online much longer- http://www.kgbt4.com/about/bio.aspx?id=434

I was born and raised in Louisiana, but I’ve called Harlingen home for nearly 40 years.

Now nearly all that time I’ve been with KGBT.

While I do the weather at Noon and on weekends, I also get to spend a lot of time out in the community with different organizations and Winter Texans. It’s a great way to put my experience in the valley to good use.

Aside from my wife, daughters and grandchildren, probably one of the closest things to my heart is the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I’ve taken part in the annual MDA telethon for decades and enjoy being able to help valley children who need that medical care.

If I’m not at work, there’s a good chance you’re going to find me in the yard working on the garden, or on my boat fishing somewhere near South Padre Island.

I may have been doing the weather for many years, but I still get excited about giving the forecast to folks across the Valley.

I work with some great people at KGBT and I’ve watched some great young people grow their careers here. My job is very rewarding.

Oh, The Valley Morning Star also had some great comments.

Poet Laureate says: Larry James is no more, Channel 4 is a bore, For news to the core, Channel 5 has more.

HA.

Even Wikipedia got in on it.

On April 29, 2008, KGBT-TV’s 43-year veteran weatherman, Larry James, announced a sudden retirement. He refused to comment on the reasons, referring all questions to station management. Those in charge of the station have refused to comment. James was the last of the on-air personnel from what many Valley residents consider the station’s “glory days” during the late 1960s and 1970s when it had studios in central Harlingen and the top-rated newscast in the Rio Grande Valley.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KGBT-TV

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