Baton Rouge Weather Pat Shingleton Weathercaster TV Weatherman

Hurricane Pat Hits Town

That was the headline on the cover of the popular Gris Gris magazine back in 1979 when Pat filled its cover. Shingleton creates excitement where he goes because he gets involved. Pat has always been that way. Pat Shingleton got started in Baton Rouge through Tommy Gibbens at WAFB TV, then owned by Guaranty Broadcasting Group. Previously working in Missouri, it didn't take much to sell him on the Spring-time weather and azalea blooms when he visited in May of 1978. Once here, he started a program to gain name recognition. He visited schools, did many speaking engagements, started the McDonalds Color the Weather Contest, and worked with the station to do on-air promotions. However, it was through a tv promotion shot by photographer Grey Hammett where Shingleton appeared as Rocky Balboa that he got the most celebrity. The promo aired an inordinate number of times because "somehow" the logs got loaded when the Marketing Manager, Grace McElvyn was sick. It was so coincidental. He became the most highly recognized tv personality in the city. The competition (WBRZ TV) didn't like it and their news director, John Spain, helped to get him a job offer back in his home town of Pittsburgh, PA.

If you were living in Baton Rouge between 1978-1985 and owned a television set you probably remember some of the craziness that Pat Shingleton has brought to our city. In addition to the Rocky promos, the WePlay Baton Rouge game show, Hotline After Dark late night talk show he brought side to volunteerism that has been fun and totally involved our comunity. Pat's Coats for Kids, begun in 1985 partnered Kean's the Cleaner,

Pat in front of WAFB weathermap in the Gris Gris Magazine in 1979 1979 Pat Shingleton at weathermap

Left to right, Jay Townsend, Pat Shingleton, Jay Young, Brenda Hodge

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