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| About This Page |
| Cooperative observers are very much a part of the
National Weather Service...collecting much needed weather data. To read more about the
observers, look below. |
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John Campanius Holm Award |
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| Lela
and Bill Cooper of Deer, Arkansas have been cooperative observers for the National Weather Service
(NWS) for 30 years (as of June, 2006). During that time, they collected temperature and
rainfall data on a daily basis and sent their measurements to the NWS. The
measurements were archived and published (for use by
business, government agencies and the general public) by the National Climatic Data Center
in Asheville, North Carolina. For their efforts, the Coopers received a John Campanius Holm Award...and also
a 30 Year Length-of-Service Award. Each year, the coveted Holm Award is presented to 25 people who have performed
exceptional volunteer service as weather observers. |
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In the picture to left:
Lela and Bill Cooper (sitting) of Deer, Arkansas received John Campanius
Holm and 30 Year Length-of-Service Awards. Posing with the Coopers is
Jimmy Russell (standing), the Observation Program Leader at the National
Weather Service in Little Rock, AR. Click to enlarge. |
| In addition to providing routine
observations, the Coopers have reported severe weather (large hail,
damaging winds, etc) in their area when it has occurred. They have also
participated in air quality programs for the University of California and the National Park Service in Fort Collins,
CO.
In attendance at the award ceremony were Renee
Fair, Meteorologist-in-Charge...Jimmy Russell, Observation Program
Leader...and Mike Reid, Hydrometeorological Technician...all from the
National Weather Service in Little Rock, AR. |
| Created in 1959, the Holm Award is named for a Lutheran minister, John Campanius Holm.
He is the first person known to have taken systematic weather observations in the American Colonies. Working without instruments, Holm made his observations at a site near Wilmington, Delaware, from 1644 to 1645. |
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