Harry Volkman

Who is Harry Volkman?

Harry Volkman is a popular former meteorologist from the Boston, Massachusetts area, Oklahoma, and later Chicago, Illinois. He is known for being the first weatherman to issue a tornado warning.

Having an interest in radio since childhood, Volkman and his brother built a radio station at their Boston area home. The brothers worked hard on their radio productions even though only the family was able to hear the broadcasts from their small transmitter. His interest in radio carried over into the Army where he attended radio classes, but opted to study physics at Tufts University before meteorology captured his imagination and brought him to the University of Tulsa.

Volkman got his start as a weatherman at KOTV in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January 1950. While there he also served as a booth announcer, model, on-air salesman, sportscaster, variety show host and switchboard operator. He also claims to have worked briefly as a custodian for the station and not having been paid for his first three months. His beginning pay was $25.

A fine vocalist and a member of his church choir for many years, Volkman would often mix a little music into his weather forecasts wherever he worked.