![\"Rosemary](\"http:\/\/al-ba.com\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rosemary-Lucas-bw-at-weather-map-150x150.jpg\")
\u201cI was quite honored when I heard I\u2019d been selected,\u201d says Rosemary. \u201cI guess I got it because of my longevity\u201d, she laughs. Rosemary began her career at WAPI-TV in 1962.<\/p>\nRosemary 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\u2019s most popular radio and television personalities. Of course we\u2019re talking about Rosemary Lucas \u2013 a 2016 inductee into the ABA Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite honored when I heard I\u2019d been selected,\u201d says Rosemary. \u201cI guess I got it because of my longevity\u201d, she laughs. Rosemary began her career at WAPI-TV in 1962.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was first on the air on Channel 13 back in the \u201860s, it was before cable and people didn\u2019t have many choices,\u201d explains Rosemary. \u201cSo we were the ones in people\u2019s homes for so many years. They\u2019ve known us so long that we sort of became household names.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rosemary](\"http:\/\/al-ba.com\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rosemary-in-front-of-weather-map-150x150.jpg\")
A lack of choices may be one way to explain the \u201cRosemary\u201d phenomenon, but her charm and approachability made her popularity as \u201cthe weather girl\u201d soar with Birmingham audiences.\u00a0 Of course if a female weather person was called \u201cthe weather girl\u201d today, a storm of controversy and outrage would flood social media, but back in the day, it was an honor. At least that\u2019s the way Rosemary saw it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeavens no! I didn’t find it insulting,\u201d exclaims Rosemary. \u201cOf course they weren’t \u2018weather boys\u2019, you know. They were \u2018weather men\u2019. But, no, I didn’t think a thing about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rosemary](\"http:\/\/al-ba.com\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rosemary-on-set-with-409-150x150.jpg\")
It was finally decided to use her first and last names in station promotion, giving Rosemary \u201cequal billing\u201d with the male news anchors. Rosemary still wonders if equanimity was the real reason behind the change.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me tell you, when you are known by one name, you don\u2019t need \u2018equal billing\u2019 because you are on top,\u201d Rosemary says with a knowing grin. \u201cI think maybe they were jealous, so they started using both of my names and put it under the guise of \u2026 \u2018well, you want to be equal, right?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Rosemary\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n When asked of what she was most proud, Rosemary quickly replies, \u201cMy family. I\u2019m extremely blessed with the family I have and I realize that\u2019s so lovely because I’ve seen many people that don\u2019t have that.\u201d<\/p>\n And when it comes to her career? \u201cI guess it\u2019s that I was part of something which made it possible for women to break into a male-oriented industry,\u201d says Rosemary. \u201cI don\u2019t know that I did anything particularly spectacular in my career \u2026 but I enjoyed every minute of it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u2019s most popular radio and television personalities. Of course we\u2019re talking about Rosemary Lucas \u2013 a 2016 inductee into the ABA Hall … Continue reading Rosemary Lucas – ABA Hall of Fame Class of 2016<\/span> ![\"Rosemary](\"http:\/\/al-ba.com\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rosemary-with-Tom-Brokaw-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Rosemary](\"http:\/\/al-ba.com\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rosemary-with-Barbara-Walters-300x177.jpg\")