George Fischbeck

George Richard Fischbeck (July 1, 1922 – March 25, 2015) was an American television weatherman on KOB-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from the early 1960s to early 1970s. In 1972 he moved to KABC-TV in Los Angeles, replacing Alan Sloane, where he became a staple on the station's Eyewitness News broadcasts. He would retire from KABC-TV in 1992, but returned to television with a brief stint at KCBS-TV from 1994 to 1997.

Early life and career Fischbeck was born in Wallington, New Jersey, and grew up working on the family farm in Farmingdale, New Jersey, the son of Johanna (Mohlenhoff), a teacher, and George Stelling Fischbeck, a farmer. He attended Freehold High School, graduating at the age of 16 before starting, and shortly thereafter dropping out of, Rutgers University. While in the New Mexico Air National Guard, he was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and was assigned to the 188th Fighter Squadron.

He studied education while attending the University of New Mexico, graduating in 1955 with a Master of Arts. Fischbeck worked as an Albuquerque–based teacher for 23 years, which helped him develop an "ebullient" personality. The "Dr" referred to an honorary doctorate given at the now-defunct University of Albuquerque. In 1979 he was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts of America for his service to youth. After his move to California, Fischbeck appeared in a simulated news broadcast as part of an earthquake simulation exhibit at the California Museum of Science and Industry. In 2003, he was awarded the Los Angeles Area Governors Award for lifetime achievement by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for special and unique contributions to Los Angeles area television. In 2013, Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge declared April 10 to be Dr. George Day in the city. A month later,

Personal life Fischbeck was an amateur radio operator, and carried the call sign KE6SBY.

He married Susanne Fischbeck in 1949, In retirement, he continued that work and was also a volunteer with the Los Angeles Zoo In September 2015, the LAPD named their outstanding Volunteer Surveillance Team member award the "Dr. George Fischbeck Memorial Award" in his honor.

At the end of Tom Waits' comic song "Emotional Weather Report" (from his 1975 album Nighthawks at the Diner), he quips, "Dr. George Fischbeck ain't got nothin' on me!" Mark Jonathan Davis recorded a parody of Mötley Crüe's "Dr. Feelgood" called "Dr. Fischbeck" about the weatherman.

He died on March 25, 2015.