Tex Antoine

[3][4] Antoine (whose nickname "Tex" came from his growing up in Texas) first joined NBC in New York as a page in 1943, and a year later became a staff announcer for the network.

[6] In the mid-1950s he was sometimes recruited as announcer for the NBC network's College Quiz Bowl series.

As his hands drew in the lows, highs, and fronts, his voice would narrate their past and expected movements, and what their effects would be.

"[8] Antoine also entertained viewers during each report by writing the temperature in large numerals on his big blank pad, then embellishing with the marker as his weather narrative proceeded until the numeral had finally become part of a whimsical cartoon illustrating some facet of the day's weather or forecast.

In 1966, Antoine moved from WNBC to WABC-TV[9] to report the weather during newscasts anchored by Scott Vincent.

So, with Uncle Wethbee's Magic Marker in hand, he said and wrote something to the effect of: "Remember that 4 plus 3 equals 7, and that's as easy as ABC."

[10] Its new news director, Al Primo, decreed that all the newscast's on-camera talent would wear matching blue blazers with a "circle 7" crest displayed on their jacket pockets.

On November 24, 1976, on the 6 p.m. broadcast, Antoine's weather report immediately followed a story about the attempted rape of an eight-year-old girl.

Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel led the 11 p.m. newscast that night with the official apology from WABC-TV.

Protests were being held in front of the ABC headquarters from the National Organization for Women (NOW), who demanded that Antoine be fired.