Lake Charles MIC Andy Patrick (left) presents Thomas Jefferson Award to cooperative observer Douglas Hollier (Photo: WFO Lake Charles)
(Oct. 25, 2007) - Jennings, La. resident Douglas Hollier has been awarded the National Weather Service's Thomas Jefferson Award for 27 years of outstanding service to the Cooperative Observer Program. The award is the agency's most prestigious, and only seven are being presented this year to deserving cooperative weather observers across the nation.
Bill Proenza, director of the National Weather Service Southern Region, said, Hollier and the thousands of cooperative observers across the nation have given generously of their time and energy because of their interest in weather and dedication to our country. We honor them and thank them for their commitment. Hollier has maintained a complete set of accurate, legible records for nearly three decades; and, when he was unable to record observations, he always ensured that trained observers were available.
His contributions extend well beyond the Cooperative Observer program. A licensed pilot, he frequently flies over storm damage areas providing photographs for the forecast office in Lake Charles. As an Offshore Oil Operator with Anadarko Petroleum, he also provides Lake Charles with offshore weather and marine conditions.
During tropical cyclone condition, his observations have been used by the National Hurricane Center to assist in assessing tropical cyclone intensity. And he has also assisted in the retrieval and redeployment of the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. Data from this profiler is provided to the NWS National Data Buoy Center.
The National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Program has given scientists and researchers continuous observational data since the program's inception more than a century ago. Today, some 11,700 volunteer observers participate in the nationwide program to provide daily reports on temperature, precipitation and other weather factors such as snow depth, river levels and soil temperature.
