Gary Ley signs off from NBC 10

NBC 10 meteorologist Gary Ley retired Friday from WJAR, after 31 years with the television station.

Gary was hired as chief meteorologist in 1984. Prior to that, he was one of the original forecasters at The Weather Channel cable station, when it launched in 1982.

From 1980 to 1982, Gary was a forecast specialist at the National Weather Service's National Meteorological Center in Washington, D.C.

Gary was a meteorologist on active duty in the Navy for 10 years, spent 10 years in the Reserves, and is now a retired commander. He also holds the Navy Achievement Medal.

One of the first big tests of Gary's skills in Southern New England came just a month into his tenure, when Hurricane Gloria hit the coast with a peak wind of 81 mph in Providence and 91 mph in Westerly.

According to Rhode Island Monthly magazine, voters honored Gary with at least 10 "Best Of Rhode Island" awards.

Gary began a "semi-retirement" in 2009, working a few newscasts a week and filling in on other shifts.

Gary has been a member of the American Meteorological Society since 1969. He has twice served a three-year term on the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. This group certifies on-air presentations of television and radio meteorologists from around the country.

In 1989, Gary was co-chairman of the National Conference of Broadcast Meteorology in Miami. He is currently designated a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the AMS.

Gary is a proud graduate of Penn State University, with a B.S. in meteorology and holds a master's degree in meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School.

We're sure Gary will have plenty to do during retirement now. He'll have more time to root on his beloved {}Nittany Lions, more time to play golf, and more time to spend with the family he loves -- especially his grandchildren.