Tornado Victims Remember Jim Giles

While weather is on the minds of many, a man known for forecasting the weather and his family are on the minds of many others.<br/> <br/>Jim Giles passed away Wednesday night. Many viewers have e-mailed

Friday, December 22nd 2006, 4:00 pm

By: News On 6

While weather is on the minds of many, a man known for forecasting the weather and his family are on the minds of many others.

Jim Giles passed away Wednesday night. Many viewers have e-mailed or called to let us know Jim's family is in their prayers. Others have shared stories and fond memories. One Green Country family says Jim meant a lot to them, in fact he saved their lives. News on 6 Anchor Craig Day has the story.

You may recognize Jeanie Gilliland. She's been seen on the News on 6 many times, and at our Wild Wild Weather shows. A tornado survivor, Jeanie presented Jim Giles with a clock that stopped when a tornado hit her Copan home. That was back in April 2003.

"They predicted the tornado was going to hit at 6:18, this clock came off of the wall off the west end of the house. I guess when it dropped off the wall the battery came out. (Jim: "6:18") Exactly 6:18 and we're gonna present this to Jim because had it not been for what we saw on t-v, it would have caught us completely off guard," Jeanie Gilliland said back in 2003.

Instead, with Jim's warning, the family took cover and survived a direct hit by the tornado.

"Jim Giles saved our lives that day. And most certainly saved us from some sort of harm," Gilliland said.

"When he gave us that time, that meant a lot," Jerry Gilliland said.

And Jim meant a lot to the family. The Gillilandâ€™s are saddened by Jim's death.

"You listen to somebody a long time that is teaching you and telling you about weather, or clouds or things like that, you become accustomed to them and you feel like you know them," Jerry said.

"When he did come out to the house after all that happened, he was very kind, and sweet and gentle and you can tell just a good human being and he really enjoyed what he was doing and he really enjoyed helping people," said Jeannie.

The Gilliland's hate to think what could have happened if they didn't have Jim's early warning. They will forever be grateful for his hard work, his comforting presence during severe weather and for saving their lives.

"Jim was just special. Always has been," Jerry said.

The clock the Gilliland's presented to Jim has been displayed proudly in our weather center. The family says it meant a lot to them to be able to present it to Jim. And that he will always be dear to them.