[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 34 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E279-E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MR. MIKE READER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 27, 2015

  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor longtime Broadcast 
Meteorologist, Mr. Mike Reader, of Mississippi's Fourth Congressional 
District, upon the occasion of his retirement from WLOX, Channel 13, a 
television station covering our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast 
region.
  Mike Reader, a veteran of the United States Navy, began working part 
time at WLOX as a weekend weathercaster in 1983. When he retired from 
naval service in 1988, Mike became the morning weatherman and was soon 
promoted to Chief Meteorologist.
  Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Louisiana, it seems Mike's 
eyes have always

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been set on the skies. His twenty year career in the Navy trained him 
in weather observation and forecasting around the world. It was only 
natural that the man, who some call ``Winnie'' because of his likeness 
to the famous bear, would become the most trusted name in weather along 
the Gulf Coast.
  One of Mike's most challenging assignments entailed flying with the 
Hurricane Hunters into numerous storms, collecting data for national 
forecasts. In the span of his thirty year career with WLOX, Mike has 
safely weathered countless weather threats to our area, but Mike's 
dedication and passion for the safety of Gulf Coast residents shone 
under the stress of three major hurricanes, each of which had a serious 
impact along the coastline: Hurricane Elena in 1985, Hurricane Georges 
in 1998, and of course, Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
  Mike holds a certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi 
State University. He is also a member of the American Meteorological 
Society and the National Weather Association. His WLOX weathercast has 
received the coveted AMS Seal of Approval. He is married to Delores, 
the woman he calls his ``best buddy.'' They have one son and three 
grandchildren.
  I am proud to honor our friend, Mr. Mike Reader, for an outstanding 
career in weather broadcasting along Mississippi's Gulf Coast through 
WLOX news. We extend our appreciation for a job well done, and wish 
Mike ``smooth sailing'' in retirement.