SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — Founder of The Weather Channel and longtime KUSI weatherman, John Coleman has passed away at age 83.

According to his wife, Linda Coleman, the meteorologist passed away Saturday night at his home in Las Vegas surrounded by family.

Coleman was born in Alpine, Texas in 1934.

He was still a student at the University of Illinois when he got his first job at WCIA in Campaign, Illinois hosting a local bandstand show and reporting the evening weather.

Coleman was later the first weatherman on “Good Morning America” at its premiere on the ABC network in 1975, and he went on to found The Weather Channel, which launched in 1982.

After leaving The Weather Channel, he went to WCBS in New York, then WMAQ in Chicago, before moving to San Diego.

The meteorologist joined the KUSI news team in 1994, becoming the first weatherman on its newly created morning show.

Coleman retired in 2014 after 20 years at KUSI and nearly 61 in the new business.

The meteorologist was national known for creating The Weather Channel and was honored by the American Meteorological Society as Broadcast Meteorologist of the year in 1983.

The Coleman Family released this statement:

Like a strike of lightening, a clap of thunder and a ray of sunshine, legendary weatherman John Coleman was an exciting, powerful and humorous force in the lives of so many. There’s a new dancer in heaven….RIP my friend. #KUSINews pic.twitter.com/vY8wgTgcPa — Sandra Maas KUSI (@SandraMaasKUSI) January 21, 2018

So sad to learn of the passing of John Coleman, a true #SanDiego broadcasting #legend. The founder of the weather channel and beloved in SD for over twenty years! He was always kind and ready to make you laugh! He’s loved and will be missed. Rest peacefully John❤️ #KUSINews pic.twitter.com/U3J6pUrBOc — Lauren Phinney KUSI (@LaurenKUSI) January 21, 2018