Former Channel 13 weatherman Ed Brandon has died

KTRK's Ed Brandon, left, and Dave Ward, is seen here in a April 3, 1987 photo. Brandon passed away on Tuesday night according to a station manager.

>>>See how some of Houston's top TV anchors spend their free time... less KTRK's Ed Brandon, left, and Dave Ward, is seen here in a April 3, 1987 photo. Brandon passed away on Tuesday night according to a station manager.

>>>See how some of Houston's top TV anchors spend ... more Photo: Dan Hardy, Houston Post Photo: Dan Hardy, Houston Post Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Former Channel 13 weatherman Ed Brandon has died 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

Former weatherman Ed Brandon died on Tuesday night at his home here in Houston, according to KTRK-TV. He was 75 years old.

A cause of death was not immediately known but according to reports he was diagnosed with chronic heart disease over the past decade.

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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-TV's general manager Henry Florsheim said in a statement on Wednesday.

Born in 1942, Brandon was a part of a lineage of figures on KTRK-TV that included local favorites like Marvin Zindler, Dave Ward, Shara Fryer, and Bob Allen. The station was very proud of Brandon's work and dubbed him "Texas' Most Experienced Weathercaster."

Retired ABC Channel 13 Weatherman Ed Brandon lent his name and his...

Fryer went to work at KTRK-TV 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."

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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 there until his retirement in May 2007.

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In 2002, KTRK hired Tim Heller to be chief meteorologist at 5 and 10 p.m. and moved Brandon to the 6 p.m. newscast only.

Heller told Chron.com 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 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.

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The two weathermen stayed in touch after Brandon left the station, always catching up for lunch so Brandon could show off his newest Apple gadget.

Dan Lovett, an original member of KTRK's "Eyewitness News" anchor team as the station's sports director, said Brandon's biggest early challenge in Houston was adjusting to the station's format of encouraging on-air conversation between anchors.

"(Brandon) was more of a quiet, reserved kind of guy while Ward and I were the wild guys," Lovett said. "I'm sure he thought, 'Do I want to work with these guys?' But he got used to it, and it worked out pretty well.

"One time they dressed us up in cowboy outfits and put us on horses to do a promo for the Houston Rodeo. Ed said, 'I've never been on a horse.' The truth of the matter is that none of us knew how to ride a horse, and none of us looked like cowboys. But that was part of what we did back in those days. He was a wonderful guy, and we became friends."

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In a tweet just after the announcement was made, KTRK-TV's current morning meteorologist Travis Herzog remembered Brandon fondly.

"His warm demeanor and tender soul touched us all," Herzog wrote. "Ed's contagious laugh and ability to make us do the same made him one of the most popular TV personalities this city has ever seen."

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. I travel occasionally. Usually to New York or Los Angeles or to my brother's place in Carmel, Ca. Also go to lots of plays and films."

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On Wednesday McGuff told Chron.com that he cherished the chats he had with the weatherman through the years. They had just seen each other a few months ago.

"Ed was such an engaging, smart and creative person on and off the air," McGuff said. "I will miss talking with him about current events and the state of the media."

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.

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"I met Ed during probably one of the darkest moments in my life," Darragh said. "I was starting my life over. I had to re-learn 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 currently 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.

With additional reporting by David Barron

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com