Bob Peters

For many East Texans, Dr. Bob Peters is the voice of the weather. Peters, a meteorologist and longtime Tyler resident, signed off the KTBB radio station promptly at 5:45 p.m. Friday, ending his 54-year career in the business.

And true to Dr. Bob’s style, he signed off with “that’s 30,” just as he ended each report over the years, using the old-school journalism signal for the end of the story.

Smith County Commissioner Cary Nix took to Facebook to express his appreciation for Peters.

“I’ve always enjoyed Dr. Bob Peters’ weather on KTBB every morning,” Nix said. “Today was his last day, as he’s moving into retirement. What an intelligent and interesting man who overcame blindness to live a full life. I wish him the best in retirement.”

Along with working as KTBB’s meteorologist, Peters, 75, taught history and government at Tyler Junior College, beginning in 1966. He retired from the school in 2004 after 50 years teaching (he estimates he instructed more than 25,000 students), but he stayed active in weather forecasting.

“I’ve enjoyed it – the weather fascinates me,” Peters said. “Figuring out why it’s raining and the various physical factors that make the weather in Tyler, Texas, do what it is doing is something that is very satisfying to me. The weather affects what you do and how you do it each day. I like having a contribution to that.”

He said he’s a very fortunate man.

“If someone had told me what all I would have achieved after my college graduation in 1962, I wouldn’t have believed them,” Peters said.

Peters said he will continue to assist in maintaining KTBB’s website and providing updated weather forecasts, but outside of that, he hasn’t decided what he’ll do with all of his free time.

He said his first plan is to pick up a dozen roses for his wife.

“Most folks have made this out to be a bigger deal than it is, but all I know is I don’t have to get up at 4 a.m. anymore,” Peters said.

Peters graduated from Tyler Junior College and went on to earn a bachelor’s of arts degree from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin and his doctorate in history from The University of Texas at Austin.

Since 1966, “Dr. Bob,” as many listeners know him, also served as Dean of the School of University Studies at TJC. He has served on the governing boards of six state agencies under the administrations of five Texas governors, according to the KTBB website.

In 2007, Peters was one of four appointed by the governor to the board of the Texas School of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Peters was born with a severe visual impairment that became worse during a basketball accident in high school.

In 1992, Peters became the first professor in TJC history to receive the Piper Professor Award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation for being among the top educators in the state. He is one of two TJC instructors to receive the honor.

Twitter: @TMTMelissa