Ron Hearst announces upcoming retirement from KY3

KY3 Chief Meteorologist Ron Hearst announced his forthcoming summer retirement during a stop on the station’s First Alert Weather Tour March 26 in Republic.

“After 38 years in the Ozarks – 5 at KSPR, 33 at KY3 – I’m going to go ahead and call it a career at the end of the summer and retire,” he said to the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation.

In an interview today, Hearst said the audible gasp followed by a standing ovation took him by surprise.

“I felt very honored by that,” he said.

Hearst told the crowd it has been an honor and pleasure to serve viewers.

“I’ve tried to do my best to make sure everybody is safe during storms and that I bring you the best forecast every day so that you can benefit in your lives and your work, and everything that can benefit from an accurate forecast.”

Hearst told Springfield Business Journal that viewers feel a bond with their meteorologists, and for him, the feeling is mutual.

“We’ve spent a lot of late nights together,” he said.

He added that he sees presenting accurate weather forecasts for viewers as his legacy.

“I really, truly see myself in public service,” he said. “I’ve tried to put my best foot forward for my forecasts, for their safety, for their best interests, whatever that is.”

Asked how he knew it was time for him to retire, Hearst, 65, said it began three years ago when he lost his parents.

“I think that when your parents pass away, you start to sort of reevaluate life and start seeing what’s important,” he said. “For me, that’s stepping back, finding love, doing those kinds of things.”

Hearst said he had been dating a woman who lives in West Plains.

“I think it’s time to have somebody in my life,” he said. “I’m not leaving because I’m tired of doing weather or I don’t like the job or don’t like KY3. I’ve made enough money and I’ve found love, so I’m going to go do other things and be with somebody I love.”

As for what comes next, Hearst said there are a lot of possibilities.

“I’m an educated guy and I have lots of energy,” he said. “I can find other things to do that aren’t going to be as time-consuming as staying up until 3 or 4 in the morning babysitting thunderstorms.”

Forensic meteorology – that is, offering expert testimony about weather in court cases – is an interest of Hearst’s, he said, and it’s a lucrative field. He added that he regularly receives requests for his services and often has to pass on them for time reasons – but now, those opportunities beckon.

He added that he would also like to get out into the community, including schools and organizations, to talk about all things weather. That’s something there has been less time for in recent years at KY3, he said.

Reflecting on his career, Hearst said one of the most memorable weather events accompanied the Table Rock Lake duck boat tragedy in July 2018.

“I was one of the first to recognize boats down at the water were in direct danger, and I gave them quite a bit of warning,” he said.

Hearst said he was clocking 110 mph winds on radar before the accident occurred.

“That was the largest single loss of life in my career,” he said.

The historic ice storm of 2007 and the Pierce City and Joplin tornadoes in 2003 and 2011, respectively, were also key moments in his career.

On the flip side, Hearst said he has met amazing people, from David Letterman, Tony Orlando and Jesse Jackson to Dawn Wells from “Gilligan’s Island” – not to mention fellow community members in southwest Missouri.

“I’ve been very blessed in this life,” he said.

When he made his public announcement, Hearst said everyone would continue to be well cared for by the rest of the KY3 staff, and he added that he would be filling in on air from time to time and would continue to live in the community.

“KY3 is a great place. I’ve made lots of friends over the years,” he said to the live audience. “It’s been wonderful living in the Ozarks, and I do call this my home. I’m not going anywhere – I’ll still be in the Ozarks – so you’ll see me around, so stop me and say hi.”

Hearst does on-air weather for KY3 News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., at KY3 News on the CW at 9 p.m. and online at KY3.com, according to an announcement by the network of his retirement.

Hearst earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University and began his career at a station in Harrisburg, Illinois, before moving to Springfield, becoming a chief meteorologist at KSPR, according to a KY3 bio. From there, he worked in Tulsa and St. Louis before returning to the Queen City in 1993 to join KY3, rising to chief meteorologist with the retirement of Tom Dye in 2000.

Hearst helped to develop the KY3 Safe and Sound public safety program and led the Weatherschool program with local schools before leading the First Alert Weather Tour starting in 2020, according to the announcement.

Hearst has won the Missouri Broadcasters Association award for best weathercast and an American Meteorological Society award for Outstanding Service by a Broadcast Meteorologist for his coverage of the 2004 tornado outbreak, the announcement adds.