Decorated war hero, one of Lexington’s first TV weathermen dies at 100 years old

Locally-celebrated meteorologist and U.S. Army veteran Frank Faulconer has died, according to WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner.

Faulconer died Thursday at 100 years old. He was WKYT’s first weatherman and worked for other local TV and radio stations during his illustrious career. WKYT said he worked alongside Nick Clooney and others during the formative days of Lexington television.

Faulconer served in the Army after graduating from Lafayette High School in 1943, according to WKYT. He fought in World War II and retired from the Army reserves in 1974 as a lieutenant colonel.

In 2016, Faulconer was recognized by Rep. Andy Barr on his 93rd birthday. Faulconer was Barr’s great uncle, Barr said. Barr, speaking on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, said he was proud of Faulconer’s accomplishments as a soldier and weatherman.

Faulconer’s 93rd birthday, the same day Barr made the remarks, was declared by the city of Lexington as “Frank Faulconer Day.”

“He has truly helped keep millions of Americans safe both at home and abroad,” Barr said. “We recognize his service to our country, this true patriot and inspiration to us all.”

Barr said Faulconer served in France and Germany during his World War II deployment and won five bronze stars and the Distinguished Service Award for his service in Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, central Europe and Ardenne.

Faulconer enrolled at the University of Kentucky in 1946 and earned a degree in oratory, according to WKYT. After completing his degree at UK, Faulconer accepted a part-time job with WKLX, a radio station where he was the official announcer of broadcasting the big bands, according to Barr. He went on to work with WKYT and WTVQ and radio station WKQQ, where he was known as “fearless Frank Faulconer.”

One of Faulconer’s former colleagues, Barry Peel, said Faulconer was given the nickname by WKQQ’s younger audience. Peel said he was never afraid to give a weather forecast based on his projections.

“They loved him,” Peel said. “... It was a teenage, youth market station, and Frank had a brand new audience and they loved him.”

Peel worked with Faulconer at WTVQ from the mid 1970s to the 80s. He considered him one of his best friends and described him as a broadcast legend.

“Frank respected and was concerned about his audience,” Peel said. “His integrity in that regard was unparalleled.”

Faulconer would often tell Peel and his co-workers they were being invited into people’s homes through the television and they needed to be respectful towards their audience, Peel said.

“If you don’t, you’re one click away on the remote from being dis-invited,” Peel said. “Frank was never dis-invited.”

Faulconer retired in 2001 and won various national and local awards, Barr said.

“He developed a reputation for having a melodious baritone voice with a colorful and entertaining style in delivering the daily weather forecast,” Barr said.

WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said he was sad to learn about Faulconer’s death, who lived to be 100.