Going Home: Jed's Castles' Inspirational Moment

News9.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- What inspired News 9 This Morning Meteorologist Jed Castles to become a weatherman? It was something that happened in his hometown of Tulsa.

Jed called his childhood a "Brady Bunch" upbringing, happy and ideal. He spent a lot of time with his parents and three older brothers at the family's church, First United Methodist.

Jed took us back to where his childhood home used to be, but it was torn down because of a nearby creek. Jed said when he was just 7 years old, he was home with just his brothers when severe weather broke out and tornado ripped through his neighborhood. The creek swelled and flooded the entire area. Jed said the weather didn't scare him, it excited him!

"Absolutely exhilarated! And that's what caused me to realize I wanted to be a weatherman just like the guy on TV."

Like most teenage boys, Jed spent a lot of time hanging out with his buddies and eating. His favorite place was a restaurant called Peppers. He and his friends would order only ice tea then chow down on the free chips and salsa. Jed said pretty soon the restaurant caught on to the group's game, and the wait staff started bringing them small or crushed-up chips. Jed and his buddies called them "freeloader chips."