On December 11, 2003, Mr. John Kelly, National Weather Service Cooperative Observer, was presented the Thomas Jefferson Award by WFO Huntsville Meteorologist-In-Charge John Gordon.

The Thomas Jefferson Award was created in 1959 to recognize weather observers for outstanding achievements in the field of meteorological observations. The Thomas Jefferson Award is the highest and most prestigious award bestowed upon Cooperative Weather Observers. The award is normally given to not more than five observers across the nation per year. Candidates for this award must have also received the John Campanius Holm Award more than five years prior to being nominated for the Jefferson Award. The Holm Award is given to a maximum of twenty-five observers nationally per year.

Mr. Kelly has been a cooperative observer since April 1, 1957. He was the recipient of the National Weather Service’s John Campanius Holm Award in 1996, and Length of Service Awards in 1992 for 35 years of service, and in 2002 for 45 years of service.