|
Knippell hangs up his umbrella
By Courtney Burleson, Managing Editor
For 42 years Erwin Knippell has served city of Columbus residents, braving the elements 365 days a year.
Each and every day Knippell has made his way to an open field off of Front Street where he recorded local temperatures and the county's rainfall count for the National Weather Service. There he would record the county's high and low temperatures over a 24-hour period, along with the current temperature and rainfall.
Knippell would then send his readings in a monthly report to the NWS. The last couple of years, he would also phone in daily results.
"A representative would come out once or twice a year, but most of the time I just sent my information in for them to do what they wanted with it," said Knippell.
Now, Knippell has decided it is time to pass the torch as the local weather guy. He officially retired on Dec. 31, 2007.
He began collecting weather data for the NWS as young man. Knippell took over for Walter McNutt who owned the local Texaco Service Station.
"He moved the station when the Interstate was built and didn't want to do it anymore, so the NWS asked me and I said OK," said Knippell.
While it only takes 5-10 minutes to gather the information, Knippell says it wasn't always ideal conditions.
"It didn't matter what the weather; whether it was freezing or cold, pouring rain," said Knippell. "Every once in a while when it was 15 degrees and the wind was blowing hard I'd wonder 'why did I get myself into this'."
However the answer is simple, says Knippell.
"I did it as a community service type thing, it's not a big paying job."
He recalls the most challenging assignment was back when he first started. The weather service had an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority to monitor water quality.
"I had to walk to the middle of the river bridge, on a small ledge, and there was a box with a water bottle. I had to drop the water bottle down and collect a sample," said Knippell. "At that time there was a lot of gravel hauling in the county and all the trucks would go by. There were times I would wonder 'is today the day?' and just suck it in. It was a little dangerous to go out on the bridge."
Knippell's data was also used for years to help determine disaster assistance programs in Colorado County, mainly for flooding.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture used to get rainfall reports from me to see if there enough of a flood threat for a disaster," said Knippell.
Thinking back, Knippell recalled a couple of times where the river posed a threat to county residents.
"About 8 or 10 years ago the river was out of its banks and was flowing across the golf course," said Knippell.
He said the most rain ever recorded in a 24-hour period was 12 inches.
Knippell says he has found the notoriety of being the local weather guy interesting through the years.
"People will come up to me on the street and ask me what the weather is going to do," said Knippell.
He also remembers when hurricane Rita was predicted to hit the Gulf Coast area and everyone began boarding up and leaving town. That is everyone but Knippell.
"I watch the weather patterns regularly and I predicted the hurricane was going to go way east of us," said Knippell. "Afterwards, I had several people tell me I wish I'd listen to you."
Born in Fayette County, Knippell made his way to Columbus when he was 5-years-old. Following graduation, he attended Wharton County Junior College then bought the local Sinclair service station. Later, while still gathering local weather information, he went to work for the then Texas Highway Department as a concrete inspector and surveyor, and then moved on to the Department of Human Services. There he filled a multitude of positions including food stamp caseworker, Aide for Families with Dependent Children and a case analyst.
Now with more time on his hands and not having to make daily trips to the local weather box, Knippell says he looks forward to doing some more traveling.
He is married to his wife of 38 years, Margie.
| 
