Rosemary Lucas before Cher was Cher, and certainly before Madonna was Madonna, Birmingham, Alabama had Rosemary. That one name was all you needed to hear to know that it referred to one of Alabama’s most popular radio and television personalities. Of course we’re talking about Rosemary Lucas – a 2016 inductee into the ABA Hall of Fame.

“I was quite honored when I heard I’d been selected,” says Rosemary. “I guess I got it because of my longevity”, she laughs. Rosemary began her career at WAPI-TV in 1962.

“When I was first on the air on Channel 13 back in the ‘60s, it was before cable and people didn’t have many choices,” explains Rosemary. “So we were the ones in people’s homes for so many years. They’ve known us so long that we sort of became household names.”

A lack of choices may be one way to explain the “Rosemary” phenomenon, but her charm and approachability made her popularity as “the weather girl” soar with Birmingham audiences.  Of course if a female weather person was called “the weather girl” today, a storm of controversy and outrage would flood social media, but back in the day, it was an honor. At least that’s the way Rosemary saw it.

“Heavens no! I didn’t find it insulting,” exclaims Rosemary. “Of course they weren’t ‘weather boys’, you know. They were ‘weather men’. But, no, I didn’t think a thing about it.”

It was finally decided to use her first and last names in station promotion, giving Rosemary “equal billing” with the male news anchors. Rosemary still wonders if equanimity was the real reason behind the change.

“Let me tell you, when you are known by one name, you don’t need ‘equal billing’ because you are on top,” Rosemary says with a knowing grin. “I think maybe they were jealous, so they started using both of my names and put it under the guise of … ‘well, you want to be equal, right?’”

Rosemary’s broadcasting career extended to both radio and television, and her talents reached far beyond forecasting heat waves and predicting cold fronts. She hosted a popular weekday talk show that featured interviews with movie stars, highlighted community events and put the spotlight on area talent. She appeared on numerous specials, made countless public appearances and even participated in sporting event broadcasts.

When asked of what she was most proud, Rosemary quickly replies, “My family. I’m extremely blessed with the family I have and I realize that’s so lovely because I’ve seen many people that don’t have that.”

And when it comes to her career? “I guess it’s that I was part of something which made it possible for women to break into a male-oriented industry,” says Rosemary. “I don’t know that I did anything particularly spectacular in my career … but I enjoyed every minute of it.”