(Source: WSFA 12 News) Dan pictured with Chief Met. Josh Johnson, Anchor Judd Davis, Assignment Manager Vince Hodges and Production Manager Jeff Harrison
There are some names and faces on television people just never forget. In the Montgomery TV market, Dan Atkinson is that guy. Dan was a legend on the screen and a true gentleman off it.
We were lucky enough to have Dan in Montgomery two times. His first stop was from 1974 to 1982 and then he came back in the early 2000’s. One night while he was on the air something happened that turned their world upside down.
“My primary physician was watching me do the weather one night on WSFA 12 News,” said Dan Atkinson. “He called to his wife and said, honey, I’m afraid to say this but I think Dan has some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”
Sadly, Dan's doctor was right.
Dan says if the disease didn’t take his voice he would likely still be on the air today. Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 60.
The Atkinson’s are a strong family. They credit their faith in God in helping them handle this on a daily basis. Dan and his wife Cynthia joined me and our Chief Meteorologist Josh Johnson at the station to talk about their battle, their faith, and their desire to give others hope.
“Five years ago I was told to make funeral arrangements,” said Dan’s wife Cynthia. “He was down to 127 pounds.”
If you were here in Montgomery when Dan was on the air you know how special he was. The guy was a true Rockstar but was so humble and kind to everyone.
Watching her husband’s body wither away has been miserable.
“He is my hero,” said Cynthia. “This has been devastating for all of us and it gets tougher every day. There’s almost not a day that goes by that I don’t cry in the morning when I see him before I wake him up. It’s heartbreaking.”
It’s a battle every day for the whole family.
“Someone with Parkinson’s may appear to be drunk, or disinterested,” said Dan. “There is something called the ‘mask of Parkinson’s.”
Dan keeps positive and the whole family leans on their faith.
“We just take it one day at a time and thank God for every day,” said Cynthia.
You might not realize it but Dan’s influence is still all over our newscasts.
“Dan has such a way of connecting with people to explain weather in a way people can understand it,” said WSFA Chief Meteorologist Josh Johnson. “I also learned from Dan about how to treat people at the station. I learned a lot about weather but maybe even more about being a man.”
Fitting that a guy we called “Dan the Man” would be passing along a whole lot more than tips on forecasting. His muscles are weaker, his body is smaller, but his faith and infectious smile are stronger than ever.
You can see more of our interview with Dan and Cynthia in our web extra at the top of this story. He talks about how he got into TV and what led him to WSFA. Plus some behind the scenes funny stuff that Josh and I did when talking about Dan.
http://www.wsfa.com/story/36149715/dan-atkinson-talks-about-his-battle-with-parkinsons
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