Television viewers in Appalachia said a final goodbye to a beloved local celebrity and friend. WYMT chief weather forecaster Brandon Robinson was laid to rest Wednesday after a courageous battle with brain cancer. WUKY eastern Kentucky regional reporter Jennifer McDaniels has the story.
It was a day of mourning in the mountains on Wednesday in Whitesburg as East Kentuckians said goodbye to their beloved weatherman, WYMT-TV’S former chief forecaster Brandon Robinson as funeral services were conducted. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016 Robinson was an Emmy award-winning weather forecaster who led the region with life-saving information through catastrophic storms and floods. Even though he would often declare “I'm just a country boy from Harlan County, Kentucky,” Robinson was highly regarded in the mountains and deeply resonated with its people.
Former WYMT General Manager Neil Middleton spoke at Robinson's funeral on Wednesday at the Whitesburg First Baptist Church, saying his colleague and friend will be missed by the people who listened to him, valued him, responded to him and trusted him. Middleton said Robinson worked countless hours with little sleep to help protect the people of the mountains during severe weather.
Whitesburg Mayor Tiffany Craft said a countless number of lives were saved because of Robinson's commitment during the historic 1000-year flood that swept through her town in 2022.
Robinson was a familiar face in Eastern Kentucky during local festivals and charity events. He emceed several American Cancer Society Relays For Life before his diagnosis. During his own personal fight, he and his wife, Stephanie, founded the charity organization Grey Matters, a 5k/10k race and fall gala that raises money and awareness for brain cancer. Longtime friend Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley said the best way to honor Robinson's memory is to continue to give to and support the effort.
WKYT-TV Meteorologist Jim Caldwell, who knew Robinson well and who also got his start at WYMT, said Robinson's passion to help people through the storms of life - either weather related or health related - will be his legacy in the mountains of East Kentucky.
Robinson was 42. A native of Harlan County, he had lived in Whitesburg in recent years. He was laid to rest in the Bill Adams Cemetery of Colson Kentucky.
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