Advertisement Margaret Orr reflects on 40 years with WDSU Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Margaret Orr has penned a letter to those who have watched her throughout her career as she celebrates 40 years with WDSU. On July 23, 1979, I walked into WDSU-TV and began my dream job working in my hometown serving the community I love. I grew up in storms like Betsy and Camille. I knew the devastation. Over the past 40 years I covered and forecast Danny, Elena, Juan, Bonnie, Florence, Andrew, Opal, Georges, Luling, Katrina, Rita, Humberto, Gustav, Ike, Isaac, Nate, Barry and more. Each name brings back memories. I go back to the moment. Elena could not make up her mind. The storm kept going back and forth. Juan stalled, and dumped a lot of rain. Caskets popped out of the ground near Lafitte. Opal interrupted our family vacation. I did a phone report with Alec Gifford while evacuating Perdido Bay. The children were squabbling in the back seat. Alec said, “Sounds like you’ve got a hurricane in the car with you.” Andrew caused an EF3 tornado in Laplace not too far from where relatives lived. Katrina. I still have a hard time talking about Katrina. So many memories. Hard times for all of us. Isaac was a flood event. People learned hopefully that every storm is different. People who did not flood in Katrina, flooded in Isaac. Different track. Slow movement.Social media became a major player in telling the Isaac story. It gave us confirmation of flooding like never before. What a difference from Katrina when I just learned to text. To say the business has changed over the past 40 years is an understatement. When I first started the Breakfast Edition with Bill Stanley, he read AP wire stacked in the order he wanted to read. I had a map with plexiglass over it. I drew in my cold fronts and warm fronts. I had stickers for highs and lows. Stickers for rain and storms or sunny skies. The satellite was printed every hour and placed on black cardboard. I used a pointer and stood off camera pointing to features of interest. I hung numbers on the two state map for current temperatures. Everything is electronic today!Satellite loops, radar loops, forecast models that update automatically. Hurricane forecast tracks update automatically. I used to have to plot and draw all of the hurricane forecast. One time there were 4 systems in the tropics. I got the updates in just before 10 p.m., and had to draw all the forecast before I went on the air. Talk about a little stressed! Today weather is a 24/7 job. Everything is about information now! Social media is a great way to get information out all the time, but it also means you work all the time!The weather is only one part of my job. Because I work at WDSU-TV & because I am on TV, I have opportunities to get involved for the greater good. The Children’s Hospital Telethon had a major impact on my life. It gave me a chance to be a champion for children. To help raise millions of dollars to make a difference in the lives of children. How cool is that?!More importantly, I had a chance to meet some really sick children, who were in the battle of their lives, and were the toughest fighters I ever met. Some did not live, but they are in my heart. The Krewe of Barkus was founded at the Margaret Orr Fan Club! How lucky am I am to be involved with the best parade in town?! Yes. I am a dog person. Over the years we have helped raise about one million dollars for pups in need and dog rescue groups. NOLA Tree Project! Connie Uddo with NOLA Tree Project took on my project of planting orchards around town. I want New Orleans to be a giving City. This is one way to give.Anyone can pick a satsuma or orange and eat. My current project is to check the back seat. I want reminders everywhere to prevent loved ones from being left in hot cars. Up next. Rain barrels. Let’s do our part to collect water, and prevent it from going down the drains. Rain gardens are also the way to Geaux. WDSU has also given me the opportunity to meet people. Chef Paul was a great mentor to me. He also taught me how to cook. I was having a dinner party one night, and was not sure about how to make a sauce. I called him at his restaurant to ask. He was busy cooking for all of his guests, he took time to explain it to me. What a sweetheart! Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Ronnie Cole were regulars on the Breakfast Edition. But I also got to know Don Lise a teacher at Grand Isle High School. He used to call every morning with the weather report. He died one morning just after he gave me his report. Ralph or George From Cafe du Monde brought my coffee to my car as I drove to work each morning. Sal Duhe From Poydras grew the best creole tomatoes around. He also told some great stories from the past. Tony Plohetski wrote me when he was 11 years old and came to visit the station with his parents. He ended up going into the business and is an ace reporter for television and newspaper in Austin, Texas. He is also one of my best friends. WDSU has been my home for the past 40 years. As you would expect, the people here are family to me. Many have moved onto other places or jobs, and some have passed away. They are all and always will be dear to my heart. Bill Stanley, Alec Gifford, Norman Robinson, Susan Roesgen, Roop Raj, Helena Moreno, Scott Walker and all the faces you see on WDSU today. There are many more behind the scenes who you don’t see, but are definitely a part of my life and family. Thank you, WDSU, for allowing me to help serve my community all these years. Thank you New Orleans, Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi for allowing me into your homes and lives for the past 40 years. Xoxox, Margaret P.S. I started WDSU single and dating. I got married to my wonderful husband Bill. We have three children. They are grown and working. Now, our lives are really fun with two adorable grandchildren!