- Bill Quinlan, WCJB's Chief Meteorologist since 1996, died suddenly from a heart attack over the weekend. He retired in early 2024.
- Quinlan earned meteorology credentials from Mississippi State and received national approval seals for his broadcast work.
Long-time WCJB Chief Meteorologist Bill Quinlan died suddenly over the weekend from a heart attack, the station announced on Monday.
Quinlan retired from WCJB in 2024 after working at the Gainesville station since 1996, and he served North Central Florida across multiple newscasts on the station.
“I want to thank everybody for letting me into your homes,” Quinlan said during his final newscast. “I want to thank my wife and my son for putting up with me being away during family events, now you get to have me all the time.”
A Boston native, Quinlan attended the University of Massachusetts, earned a Certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University and received Seals of Approval from the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society.
“Sometimes the news we report hits very close to home, reminding us how life’s tragedies leave none of us untouched,” WCJB anchor David Snyder said on Facebook. “Bill Quinlan was a friend and colleague who I respected immensely for blending science and art into a seven day forecast.”