Dr. Robert Peters Honored for Contributions to
National Weather Service Volunteer Observer Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service has selected Tyler, Texas, resident Dr. Robert Peters to receive the agency’s Thomas Jefferson Award for 2019, the National Weather Service’s most prestigious honor.

There are more than 11,000 cooperative observers across the United States. Normally, no more than five Thomas Jefferson Awards are presented annually for outstanding and distinctive achievements. Dr. Peters has been a volunteer cooperative observer for the National Weather Service for more than 27 years. 

            The award was presented by Mario Valverde, Meteorologist-In-Charge of the NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Shreveport.  The private ceremony was held on December 27th at Peters’ home.

            “Cooperative observers are the bedrock of weather data collection and analysis,”  Valverde said. “Satellites, high-speed computers, mathematical models and other technological breakthroughs have brought great benefits in terms of better forecasts and warnings. Without the century-long accumulation of accurate weather observations taken by volunteer observers, scientists could not begin to adequately describe the climate of the United States.”

Peters was recognized for consistently providing accurate and timely weather observations. He has taken and reported observations during the most hazardous and extreme weather conditions and has shown unusual efforts to continuously provide them despite illness, emergency absences, or equipment problems. In addition to his outstanding service as a cooperative observer, Peters has served the National Weather Service as a very reliable storm spotter.

“Peters is typical of the thousands of cooperative observers who have given generously of their time and energy because of their interest in weather and dedication to our country,” said Valverde. “We honor him with this award and thank him for his commitment.”

Dr. Peters is a pillar in the Tyler community and well known even outside of the Tyler area. He is a retired dean of Tyler Junior College and a history professor for 50 years. Not only is he well known as a National Weather Service cooperative observer, but he was also a weather broadcaster for KTBB for more than 54 years. He also served as the election broadcaster since 1962, and has written for the local newspaper.

An advocate for agencies for the blind, Peters served on the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually impaired from 2007 to 2011, one of four appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry. He served on the board of Directors for the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. He was a member of the public transit advisory committee and the Assistive and Rehabilitative Services council. He is also a member of several historical societies and author of publications regarding Texas history and politics.

“Dr. Peters lives the example of service before self and civic duty and is very well respected from every facet of the community he serves,” Valverde said. “Dr. Peters is an inspiration to the staff at the Shreveport Forecast office and everyone who meets him.”

Weather records retain their importance as time goes by. Long and continuous records provide an accurate picture of a locale’s normal weather and give climatologists and others a basis for predicting future trends. These data are invaluable for scientists studying floods, droughts, heat and cold waves. At the end of each month, observers mail their records to the National Climatic Data Center for publication in Climatological Data or Hourly Precipitation Data.

The NWS Cooperative Weather Observer Program has given scientists and researchers continuous observational data since the program’s inception more than a century ago. Today, 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.