Hank and Patty Brown recall Gary England’s mentorship, humor, and humanity

Decades spent chasing Oklahoma storms brought Hank and Patty Brown face to face with nature’s worst — and with one of the best in broadcast meteorology.

Hank Brown’s storm chasing journey began with a chance meeting at the state fair.

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“I met Gary at the fair,” he said. “We were standing there and the kids were going through, like, a fire safety house thing. And Gary was doing a public appearance... me and him just got to shooting the breeze.”

Brown recalled England's warm personality from the start. “He never met a stranger. It didn’t matter really where he was at... he talked like he always knew you.”

That day, England encouraged Brown to talk to his assistant and pursue storm chasing. “He said, hey, go talk to that lady... and tell her that I’m interested in you.”

A few months later, Brown was invited to a safety meeting and given equipment. Not long after, he chased his first big storm near El Reno and Chickasha. “We were one of the only people that were on that storm that day,” he said.

First Storms and Lasting Lessons

That early chase sparked something bigger. “I was at the station downloading video and Gary come in... he was just very complimentary.”

Soon after, equipment was installed in Hank’s truck, and his wife Patty began joining him more regularly around 2001.

One of their first joint chases stands out, a nighttime storm near the Wichita Mountains. “Gary says, Hank, where are you at?” Brown remembered. “He said, I think there’s huge hail with that thing. Man, it’s like we got a tornado on the ground.”

They quickly realized a tornado was near. “Patty’s looking... and lightning lights up. And this tornado was in this field next to us.”

When Hank visited the station the next day, Gary told him, “You scare me to death... you’re crazy. You guys are crazy.”

But Brown said Gary’s concern was genuine. “He was genuinely worried about us as chasers in the field.”

An Innovator in Every Way

As the years went on, the Browns watched England pioneer many of the tools still in use today.

“You know, the things that we just take for granted today... the weather warning maps, the state of Oklahoma map with the counties on it and the warnings — that was something that he pioneered,” Hank said.

“Gary really pioneered storm chasing, even though he wasn’t a chaser,” he said. “He’s the one that gave Val the chance... and Val, you know, pioneered media chasing.”

Patty added, “I always remember trying to race and find the nearest truck to us... so you can get video on there” before the 10 p.m. news.

A Presence That Filled the Room

The Browns remember Gary not only for his legacy but for the way he made others feel.

“He would always seek you out and talk to you like you were the only person in the room,” Hank said. “It always was impressionable that here, this icon... would seek us out to have a real conversation.”

Patty echoed the same: “He always treated everybody with kindness and respect.”

The Browns recalled dinners, award ceremonies, and even a storm chaser appreciation night at Gary’s home with live music. “It was a really cool experience,” Hank said.

Advice That Stuck

Gary’s mentorship extended beyond chasing.

“One key piece of advice that’s always stuck with me — Gary told me, when you’re reporting, tell me how it smells. Tell me how it feels. Tell me what you hear,” Hank said. “Always imagine that you’re trying to talk to like a 13-year-old kid at home... make sure that there’s enough excitement in your voice that that 13-year-old kid will know where to go and what to do.”

Even decades later, Hank said he still hears Gary’s voice when chasing: “That’s something that’s in my mind every chase.”

The End of an Era

When Gary retired, it hit hard.

“It was kind of like moving out of the house,” Hank said. “You graduate from college and what do you do now?”

He reflected on covering the May 3, 1999, tornado. “It’s coming through Moore, which is where I grew up... and I’m talking to Gary live on the air.”

“Gary, I’m looking in my rearview mirror and I can see this monster of a tornado,” he had told him. Later, England said, “Hank, you scared me to death... but I’ll never forget the picture I had in my mind.”

Patty called the moment bittersweet. “I was excited for him... but it was a little nerve-wracking to think, okay, where is this going to go? What’s going to happen now?”

Staying in Touch

Even after retirement, Gary and the Browns kept in contact.

One memory made them laugh — a friend mistook Gary’s weather report for a town name. “He said, this tornado is very close to Hank,” Brown recalled. “The guy thought he was saying Hank, Oklahoma.”

Gary also helped Hank’s daughter during her time at OU. “Gary gave her some pointers and tips and she interviewed him.”

A Lasting Legacy

Though it’s been a couple of years since they last saw him in person, the Browns said Gary’s impact endures.

“Mary, we love you. Molly, we’re so sorry,” Hank said. “Not only are you grieving... but the state of Oklahoma is grieving along with you.”

“There’s really nothing I could say that would add anything to Gary’s legacy,” he said. “The very fact that he is who he was... the pioneer things that he did... are still saving lives today.”

Patty added, “We’re thinking about him. We’re praying for him... Gary will always be remembered.”