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feature articles Home, Living, & Real Estate When Dad’s Home, the Forecast Calls for Fun | When Dad’s Home, the Forecast Calls for Fun |
| Written by Wendy Smith | |||||||
| Sunday, 01 June 2008 | |||||||
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As the father of two growing boys, Scott tries to focus on the here and now. He makes it a priority to spend time with his sons, Grant, 9 and Ian, 6, in spite of his hectic professional life. In addition to live television appearances at 4:00, 5:30, 6:00, 7:00 and 11:00 pm on weekdays, Scott provides forecasts for 11 radio stations. “Being a dad and being in this business, there are significant demands on my time,” Scott says. “For Grant and Ian, it’s normal. Now they’re just appreciative of the time we have.” During the week, Scott’s interactions with his boys are limited to a goodbye kiss before school and his dinner break from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Scott says the family manages to cram a lot of quality time into that hour-and-a-half.But his schedule makes weekends especially important. “I make sure we still find time to roll around in the yard,” he says. Scott grew up in South Knoxville and graduated from DoyleHigh School in 1978. He took classes at the University of Tennessee for two years before transferring to FloridaState for a dual degree in meteorology and social science. His first job, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , took him to Norfolk, VA. He was thrilled to come across a job opening with the National Weather Service at McGhee Tyson Airport two years later. Scott landed his first television job with WATE at age 30. The average age for a television meteorologist is mid-twenties, he says. Being a late bloomer as a weatherman has clearly worked well for him, and becoming a dad later in life has had its benefits, too. “The best thing about being an older parent is that we give second chances,” he says. Scott and Melissa Blalock have been together since 1989, and their boys have always been their first priority. That’s why Scott feels fortunate that his work schedule allowed him to be “Mr. Mom” when his boys were younger. He appeared on WVLT’s morning newscast until his evening gig began last summer. While the early schedule required Scott to report to work in the wee hours of the morning, it also meant he was done for the day at 1:00 pm, which gave him more time at home with his boys.
Grant and Ian attend A.L. Lotts Elementary, and most of their fellow students are familiar with their high-profile dad, either from the evening news or from talks Scott has given at the school. Either way, the boys are unfazed by the extra attention. Instead, Grant and Ian are focused on learning about the world. They love reading and figuring out how things are put together, Scott says. They are both curious, as he was as a child. Grant, the more serious of the brothers, loves thunderstorms and enjoys storm chasing with his dad when the opportunity arises. Ian, who is more social, prefers to be indoors during violent weather. There are times, Scott admits, when the boys will be scrutinized more than other children because of his public persona. When they are out and about, Scott insists on good behavior. “They’re growing up fast because they’ve had to learn they will be held to a higher standard because people are watching them,” he says. Scott predicts that Grant and Ian will rise to the occasion—and he’s known for making accurate forecasts.           
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