Former KTRK weatherman Brandon dies
Ed Brandon delivered the weather to Houstonians in a folksy manner that endeared him to viewers for 35 years.
Former weatherman Ed Brandon died on Tuesday night at his Houston home, according to KTRK-TV, his longtime on-air home. He was 75.
A cause of death was not immediately known, but according to reports, he was diagnosed with chronic heart disease over the past decade.
Brandon delivered the weather to Houstonians in a folksy manner that endeared him to generations of viewers for 35 years.
“Ed was part of the Eyewitness team that formed the foundation for ABC13 today. Ed presented weather with a smile and made it understandable for all,” KTRK’s general manager, Henry Florsheim, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Born in 1942, Brandon was a part of a top-ranked KTRK lineup that included local favorites like Marvin Zindler, Dave Ward, Shara Fryer and Bob Allen. The station dubbed him “Texas’ Most Experienced Weathercaster.”
Fryer went to work at KTRK in 1980 as an anchor, and she was the lone woman on a five-person news team . For the group, Houston news was life. They jokingly called themselves “junkyard dogs” for their durability and tenacity.
“Ed was like an older brother to me, and he had such a big heart,” Fryer said Wednesday. “His humility enters the room first, and he had no ego. There was warmth in everything he did. He made us laugh, too.”
He loved interacting with people, she said, and the news junkie had a wealth of knowledge to tap into.
“He wasn’t a meteorologist as much as he was a ‘weather man’ and he used his upbringing in Texas to help viewers understand weather patterns,” Fryer added. “He used colloquial wisdom to make the weather fun for people.”
According to the station, Brandon came to Houston in 1972 after stints in radio and TV in Austin, Longview and his native Texarkana. He maintained his position as chief weatherman until 1989, when he checked into a rehab center for substance issues. He was rehired in 1990 and stayed until his retirement in May 2007.
In 2002, KTRK hired Tim Heller to be chief meteorologist at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and moved Brandon to the 6 p.m. newscast.
Heller said on Wednesday that Brandon welcomed him with open arms at the station when he arrived and helped him get the lay of the land at the outpost off Bissonnet. They worked side by side until Brandon retired.
“I’ll always remember his calming presence on air,” Heller said. “No matter how scary the weather situation, Ed made you feel safe and would often remind viewers that we’ll get through this together.”
During Brandon’s tenure, he guided Houstonians through a number of weather events like Hurricane Alicia and Tropical Storm Allison.
The two weathermen stayed in touch after Brandon left the station, often catching up for lunch so Brandon could show off his newest Apple gadget.
Last year, Brandon told Houston media reporter Mike McGuff he was enjoying retirement and keeping busy.
“I lead what most folks would consider a rather boring life. I bought a house when I retired and enjoy puttering around with it,” he told McGuff. “Pretty heavily involved in the ‘recovery’ movement which is its own little sub-set of society. ”
Melissa Ragsdale Darragh spent her childhood in Houston watching Brandon show viewers heat waves and cold fronts. She knew a side of the weatherman that few others did, as she herself recovered from her own substance addiction battles. As a young adult, she met Brandon and formed a bond with him.
“I met Ed during probably one of the darkest moments in my life,” Darragh said. “I was starting my life over. I had to relearn how to live ‘life on life’s terms’ and ‘one-day-at-a-time’ as we say in the recovery community.”
Darragh, who now works for the city of Houston, said Wednesday that Brandon created a pathway for people to talk about addiction and mental health, which still carries a pronounced stigma. He remains an inspiration in her life.
“Knowing people like Ed, who I considered to be a celebrity, taught me that I would be able to live a successful, meaningful life and give back the gift of recovery.”
According to KTRK-TV, a public memorial is in the works for friends and family to celebrate Brandon’s life.
Brandon’s brother, Burt Branstetter, told KTRK, “Ed was the sweetest guy I ever knew and loved his Channel 13 family.”
Besides his brother, Brandon is survived by a large extended family.
“His humility enters the room first, and he had no ego. There was warmth in everything he did. He made us laugh, too.” Shara Fryer