See Ya Soon, Reg!
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the early 80s, Reg Taylor began his career as a TV weather forecaster, inspired by his grandfather, who was a high school science teacher. “Before he passed in the 1972, I promised one day, before he passed away, I said ‘I’m going to be a television meteorologist. That’s what I really want to do, and thank you for getting me so interested in it.’ So that’s what I did,” says Taylor.
He continues, “I always take a second just before I go on air each time I do this and just say ‘thank you.’ I’m always always thankful to be here and doing what you love to do. It’s amazing, it really, really is.”
As the years in TV ticked by, so did life. Reg welcomed his daughter Jenea and then his son, Jensen.
He joined the Bahakel Communications family in 1992, at WOLO in Columbia, S.C. In 2002, Reg joined WCCB Charlotte. He covered weekends then. It was only two years before Reg was named Chief Meteorologist.
He’s entertained us all, and he’s kept our community informed during severe weather events. WCCB News @ Ten anchor Morgan Fogarty asked Reg, “One of the things we have always remarked about you is that whenever there are big weather events in the Charlotte area, Reg prepares, but he doesn’t scare people. Why is that philosophy so important to you?” Reg replied, “There tends to be in TV, a level of ‘I want to make people understand.’ I’ve never been one to hype it, because it’s important.”
Family is important, too, and after many missed “proud dad” moments, Reg is stepping away from the long, strange hours of TV news so he can enjoy his family, including his wife of more than ten years, Debbie. Debbie says with a smile, “I’m the drama queen, he’s the person that keeps it all in check!”
Reg and Debbie have built a successful real estate company that serves both Carolinas, and Reg will now be able to join Debbie full time. He’ll also get more time to spend with his and Debbie’s kids, who’ve now blossomed into young adults. Debbie says, “As my son prepares, our youngest, prepares for the Air Force, he sits there time after time, listening to videos and watching what he’s going to be going through. And our oldest is applying at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, so as kids, they’re excited about what they’re doing and he sits there and listens to every little bit of it and gives input. He’s very compassionate and very caring.”
Reg is also very funny. So funny, there’s a @RegTaylorSays Twitter account, full of his funniest TV quotes. Reg says of the account, “It makes me laugh! I genuinely get a chuckle out of it every time I read it. I said that? That’s funny!”
Reg says, “I’ve been able to do exactly what I wanna do in life. It’s just been such a privilege and a thrill to do on a daily basis. It’s something you’ll never forget.”
