SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Roger Fournier’s summer job at Discount Tire was supposed to be a pit stop.
The paychecks he earned as a teenage tire technician put him through college and closer to his dream career that had nothing to do with cars or tires.
“My dad had a barometer and an anemometer and different things where I could start measuring weather,” Fournier said. “I just got hooked.”
Fournier’s childhood dream was to become a TV weatherman. He even went to ASU and graduated with a degree in meteorology.
But life had a different forecast in mind.
Now in his 60s, Fournier is retiring — not as a meteorologist — but as a senior vice president at Discount Tire. During a surprise sendoff Tuesday at the company’s headquarters in Scottsdale, an unexpected guest left Fournier speechless.
George Guilford, assistant vice president for corporate facilities, wrote a letter in November to 12News meteorologist Krystle Henderson-Long.
“His successful career at Discount Tire put his weather reporting aspirations on hold,” Guilford wrote. “However, whenever there is a weather event in Arizona or around the country, we can all turn to Roger where he is more than happy to provide a detailed explanation of the different weather events.”
During his 44-year career at Discount Tire, Fournier climbed the corporate ladder from tire technician to salesperson, assistant manager, manager, and regional vice president of Florida and Illinois, before becoming a senior executive of America’s largest independent tire store.
His passion for meteorology never faded, nor did his commitment to the company and its 23,000 employees.
“He really is the ambassador of everything that is good about our company,” Guilford said.
That’s why Guilford wrote the letter, knowing a visit from Krystle would be a high point for sending Fournier into retirement.
Fournier was caught off guard as Henderson-Long walked into the room and presented him with a certificate, declaring him an honorary meteorologist of the 12News team, his favorite channel.
“We were so excited to hear that you share the passion that we do on the weather team for meteorology,” Krystle said.
“Are you hiring?” Fournier asked.
Discount Tire staff also produced a mock, taped newscast in which Fournier provided a forecast for the Valley.
“It brought me back in time; I was 18 or 19 years old again when I stood in front of that screen and I was doing the weather,” Fournier said. “Those are memories — I don’t have videos — they probably got lost over time.”
Krystle also invited Fournier to do a forecast in the 12News studio.
“You better study up a little bit more on the forecast because part of being a 12News honorary meteorologist means you are invited to come to the studio and actually do a weather cast on our green screen,” Krystle said.
It’s an offer he plans to take her up on.
“You created a memory of a lifetime for him,” Guilford said.
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