photo by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

"Doppler" Dave Oliver

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Calling himself, jokingly, of course, the “Grandfather of Amarillo T.V.,” Dave Oliver is probably one of the most recognizable local television personalities in town. Best known as “Doppler Dave,” the NewsChannel 10 Chief Meteorologist has called Amarillo – and his job at the station – home for more than 24 years.

“I’ve had adults come up to me and tell me I visited their Kindergarten class,” he laughs. “Yeah, that makes me feel old.”

Born in Wichita, Kansas, coincidentally the middle of tornado alley, Dave spent a brief time in Oklahoma City before moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, at the age of 12. He has been interested in the weather since early childhood, saying that whenever there was a tornado warning in the area, his mother would have to go outside and retrieve him from a tree. Essentially, he says, he was born this way.

Naturally, Dave went on to study meteorology and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1983, marrying his wife Carol the same year. (They have two children, Aubrey, 22, and Luke, 19.) Dave got his first meteorologist job at a CBS affiliate in Corpus Christi, then spent a brief two years in Victoria, Texas. In October 1986, Dave started at NewsChannel 10 as the morning meteorologist and within the year was promoted to Chief.

“I’m really a storm chaser who got a job in T.V. That’s my passion,” says Dave, who loves reporting the Panhandle weather. “I always say that when God created the weather, He made us the headquarters. You never get burned out here.”

For Dave, tornados are the ultimate natural demonstration of power. He loves to watch them come together, to develop, and see how the patterns change in seconds. The number of tornados he’s experienced is in the dozens and yet the intensity of a developing storm still gives Dave a rush.

Recently, Dave participated in the making of a documentary based on his passion, titled “Wild Texas Weather.” It’s currently showing in the Texas Spirit Theater at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

Click here to see a preview of Wild Texas Weather.

When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is… Usually some praise music.

My friends and family call me… Dave.

My favorite meal to make from scratch is… Jambalaya.

In an alternate life, I would’ve been an… Astronaut.

My biggest pet peeve is… Going to the store for peanut butter and finding only smooth!

If I had an open plane ticket to anywhere, I would go to… Alaska with my wife.

After a long, hard day, I love to… Take my dogs, Muffin and Bernie, for a long walk.

One of my favorite childhood toys was… Matchbox cars and trucks.

One movie I could watch over and over again is… A Walk to Remember.

If I were a character in a book, I would be… A biblical Archaeologist.

The greatest piece of advice I’ve ever received is… "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

When my children grow up, the one thing I want them to always remember is… The joy they have given me and what a privilege it has been to be their father.

You may be surprised to know that I… Play some drums now and then.

One habit I wish I could break is… Getting impatient with other drivers.

My guilty pleasure is… Lots of caffeine.

I know every word to the song… "Singing in the Rain."

If I had the time, I would… Fish every lake in America.

My favorite bad-for-me-food is… A good, drippy cheeseburger.

When I get online, I always go to… Look at weather stuff.

The thing I love the most about living in Amarillo is… We have the some of the most interesting weather in the country and the people here are so warm and friendly.

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

Jennie was a columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press for eight years prior to moving to Amarillo in 2008. She is an avid reader, runner and writer.

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