CONTACT:  Delores Clark                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                         `                   12/10/98 

The National Weather Service announced today the retirement of Myron H. Kerner, communications manager for the National Weather Service Pacific Region.

"Myron's dedicated service to the National Weather Service and his legacy in the Pacific Region will long be remembered," said Richard H. Hagemeyer, regional director. "In an era of high speed computers, Doppler radars, and advanced satellite technology, reliable communication capability continues to be critical to our mission. He will be greatly missed."

Kerner managed communications for 14 NWS offices in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, FSM, and Pohnpei--some of them in remote areas.

"It is an important job since the weather service is unable to transmit and receive data unless communication circuits are functioning properly," said Jay Delcano, chief of systems integration and Kerner's immediate supervisor. "We share high speed communication lines with the military and other agencies in addition to having our own. When Typhoon Paka knocked out communications in Guam last year, the Honolulu Forecast Office had to take over operations. We would not be able to do that if our communications lines were down. When something goes wrong, it's more than simply calling up the phone company to make a repair it requires a great deal of coordination. Over the years, Myron built up an extensive list of contacts."

An avid sailor, Kerner was responsible for maintaining the Radiofax, a service for mariners to receive important weather information over VHF transmission. Kerner also oversaw the installation of NOAA Weather Radio transmitters throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He also handled frequency applications for the diverse remote automatic and tidal stations deployed throughout the Pacific that transmit data directly to NOAA and Japanese satellites for relay to forecast offices in the region.

Kerner began working for the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1940. During the war, he served on weather ships in the Atlantic in the U.S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserve, but still on Weather Bureau salary. A ruptured appendix three days out from San Francisco put him ashore, which eventually led to a position as meteorologist in charge at Canton Island in the South Pacific. He had the same position in Guam before moving to Hawaii.

At a recent social honoring him, Kerner related a few facts from his extensive career. His starting salary was $1,440 a year--not a month. He ate out three meals a day for about $1.10 and still managed to save money. Drawing weather charts, isobars, and highs and lows advanced to the new science of studying air mass and frontal analyses a far cry from the advanced technology meteorologists use today. After only a few weeks of on-the-job experience, he stood watch alone on Sundays adapting the public forecast for Los Angeles and vicinity. At that time, a guidance forecast was received from San Francisco, issued by only one meteorologist covering several Western states and the high seas. Hollywood was a principal customer. The word from Republic Studios was that the Weather Bureau saved the studios more money than the total Weather Bureau budget.

Why wait so long to retire? Kerner said he might have retired earlier but, as he explained, the job kept getting more interesting and he didn't want to miss anything.

"He tried to retire in 1984," Hagemeyer added, "but we needed him to stay around and upgrade our communications. He's taking a lot of history with him when he goes."

A long-time member of the Waikiki Yacht Club, Kerner actively participated in the Junior Sailing Program. His son Sam competed in the 1996 Olympics sailing competition. Sam is now married and lives in San Francisco. Kerner's other son, Greg, and his wife live in Waimanalo. They recently became the proud parents of twins. Kerner plans to remain in Honolulu, where he has lived for 34 years.

Terry Ganzel succeeds Kerner as the new communications manager. Ganzel previously was the information technology manager for the National Weather Service Central Region in Kansas City. He has prior communications experience with private industry and the military.