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Dick Goddard will be making a major announcement on WJW Channel 8's 6 p.m. newscast for Wednesday, May 18.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is Dick Goddard preparing to announce his retirement at WJW Channel 8? The Cleveland Fox affiliate has posted an item at its website promoting "Dick Goddard's major announcement, Wednesday on Fox8 news" at 6 p.m.

The station's fox8.com item says that the announcement on Wednesday, May 18, is "more than 50 years in the making."

"I'm just not allowed to say what it is," Goddard said Tuesday during a telephone conversation. "I can't say anything to you. I wish I could. You have to watch. I promised the station I wouldn't say anything."

It's possible that Goddard will be announcing he will no longer be handling weather forecasting duties at Channel 8, but still will be on the air to promote animal welfare, rescue and adoption. Although the station is not making any official comment or promises, it's doubtful Goddard is completely severing his connections with the station that has been his TV home for 50 years.

Contacted Tuesday for comment, executives at Channel 8 remained tightlipped.

"You'll just have to watch Wednesday night at 6," said Kevin Salyer, Channel 8's vice president for programming and promotion.

Goddard, 85, has cut back on those weather duties in recent years. The Fox affiliate station's other meteorologists include Melissa Mack, Andre Bernier, Scott Sabol and A.J. Colby.

"Helping the four-foots is my goal in life," Goddard said.

Known for his self-effacing humor and his expert grasp of tricky Cleveland weather patterns, the genial, soft-spoken Goddard had been a local news fixture since May 1961.

An Akron native, Goddard was born on Feb. 24, 1931. A Green High School graduate, Goddard received his earliest weather training in the Air Force.

Returning to Akron when his stint was up in 1955, Goddard spent five years with the National Weather Service, working during most of that time toward a fine arts degree at Kent State University. His job with the Weather Service was to broadcast reports from Akron-Canton Regional Airport.

Goddard signed a contract to forecast the weather at KYW Channel 3 (now WKYC). He made his television debut on May 1, 1961. His historic run on Cleveland television was briefly interrupted in 1965 when he agreed to move to Philadelphia. He couldn't warm up to the City of Brotherly Love, however, and he was back in Cleveland after a few months.

Goddard signed with Channel 8 in 1966.