John Coughlin

John Coughlin (September 3, 1925 – February 17, 2001) was a longtime meteorologist for WBBM-TV in Chicago, during the station's No. 1 position in the television news market in Chicago in the 1970s.

Early life and education Born and raised in Chicago, Coughlin served two years of combat during World War II. He then earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Northwestern University in 1952.

Professional career Coughlin's first job was working for a small radio station in Alton, Illinois, where he lived in a dingy boarding house with the station's other disc jockeys. After about a year in Alton, Coughlin worked for a variety of radio stations in Chicago. He joined WBBM-TV in 1953, working mostly on children's programs. Coughlin then began studying meteorology—even hiring a tutor from the University of Chicago.

Coughlin retired from WBBM-TV in August 1989. "I cannot think of a thing that I would have done differently," Coughlin told the Chicago Tribune at the time of his retirement. "I've been so lucky. I was at the right place at the right time several times in my life. I had no idea I'd be the weatherman when I started out."

Death Coughlin collapsed and died at his retirement home in Evanston, Illinois on February 17, 2001. He was 75.

Personal Coughlin never married. Upon his death, he was survived by three sisters.