Senator Cal Hobson Tours National Weather Center with OU President David Boren

Cal and his son Jack recently met with Oklahoma University President David Boren on June 8th for a personal tour of the new home of the National Weather Center (NWC) on the south Norman research campus. Also showing the Hobsons around were College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences Dean John Snow and Assistant Dean Kevin Kloesel. Senator Hobson obtained $19 million in state funding for this ambitious project, scheduled to be occupied this fall. Years in the making, the Center is a unique meteorological combination of federal, state, and OU organizations. It currently employs over 650 weather specialists that contribute nearly $100 million annually to Oklahoma's economy. Most importantly, the Center will house the latest in state of the art weather monitoring systems to predict severe storms. The Center will also encompass disciplines including, among others, weather news, supercomputer education, applied meteorology research, atmospheric environment, and professional meteorology masters degree programs. The NWC is another significant accomplishment that proves Cal's dedication to economic progress in Oklahoma.