NEWS: Matt Biddle

[Tim Vasquez]

I just learned that Matt Biddle, a well-known 42-year old Norman chaser, suffered a stroke last Monday or Tuesday. The bad news is that his communications abilities were seriously impaired. The good news is that he has weathered it, is making progress, and was released out of ICU to Integris Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital in OKC.

He's had a fair number of visitors and his family is there, so there's probably no need to call or visit unless you know him personally. If any donations are accepted for the medical bills, it will be through OU's Geography department. Myself or someone else will post relevant info if it becomes available.

Matt was on Stormtrack about a year or two ago but dropped off. He has typically stayed out of the limelight, but his skills and knowledge are highly respected within the OU chase community. Matt is well-known for his strong stances on storm preparedness and chase safety issues. He's also known for this (http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=55356#55353) incident which highlighted some storm reporting issues within EM.

All of us at Stormtrack send our best wishes to this respected member of our 'extended' chase family.

Some links of interest.

* Matt Biddle's homepage (http://weather.ou.edu/~mbiddle/modrisk.html)

* Matt Biddle's chasemobile (http://www.facethewind.com/elcamino.jpg) - an unmistakable El Camino

Tim

[Caleb Lawrence]

My prayers and best wishes are with him. He's been a big influence on me to stay interested in weather. I felt a bit sick when I first heard about this...I hope he can get better soon.

Godspeed, Matt.

[Jason Boggs]

I don't know Matt, but I wish him the very best and hope that he has a very quick recovery. My prayers are with him...

[Karen Politte]

If you're a Normanite then Matt's been part of your chasing world for as long as you can remember. Never a more true, awesome or genuine guy.

I heard about Matt's situation quite a while ago and was very shocked and anxious for him. I hear he has been making progress every day......and my thougths and prayers go out to him and his family.

KR

[Bill Hark]

Matt was one of the first chasers I met when I was out for the first time in 1997. Very nice, down to earth with a great sense of humor. He is one of the Red Wings biggest fans. I wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

Bill Hark

[Mike Peregrine]

Best wishes on a speedy and healthy recovery, Matt ...

[Andrew Khan]

Hope he gets better quick.

[Dick McGowan]

Hope all is well, and my condolences go out to his friends and family.

[Andy Wehrle]

I didn't know much about Matt until I read Mark Svenvold's book, "Big Weather" in which Matt is featured prominently because he was Svenvold's guide. He sounded like a great guy...my best wishes to him and his family.

[Tim Vasquez]

I decided that we ought to send out a card from Stormtrack, with messages from our users. I'll do this on Monday, so you have all weekend to send Matt a message. I'll just compose it from all text in this thread. If you don't wish to participate or don't want something you wrote included, just PM me privately and I'll omit your message, no explanation needed.

Tim

[Rachel Chambers]

I think that is a great idea. Hope you make a speedy recovery, Matt.

[Bobby Eddins]

Originally posted by Tim Vasquez
I decided that we ought to send out a card from Stormtrack, with messages from our users. I'll do this on Monday, so you have all weekend to send Matt a message. I'll just compose it from all text in this thread. If you don't wish to participate or don't want something you wrote included, just PM me privately and I'll omit your message, no explanation needed.

Tim

Great Idea Tim,

Matt, From the chasers down here in DFW. Keep fightin' and get better. Everyone's pulling for you down here.

P.S. Even though I'm a stars fan, "Go Redwings"!!

[Greg Stumpf]

Matt,

Dude, you're in our prayers. Hope to see you real soon again under the rain free base, or maybe at Border Crossing.


Greg Stumpf

[Tim Samaras]

Matt:

Here's to a very rapid recovery (Hoisting our favorite drink)! We gotta get out there again!

Warmest Regards,
Tim Samaras

[Robert Dewey]

Get well my friend...

[Aaron Kennedy]

Matt:

Good luck with the recovery! Hopefully, we'll see you wandering the halls and waiting for the elevators in Sarkeys in no time!

[Joseph Tyree]

Matt,

Hope you have a quick recovery. I will be praying for you.

[Angie Norris]

Hi Matt!!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!! All good thoughts coming your way!
See you around campus!!
Angie

[Joe Nield]

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, from cold Indiana!

[Bill Doms]

From those of us closer to Canada than Oklahoma, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Joey Ketcham]

I wish him well and hope he gets better quick!

[Gabe Garfield]

Matt, I wish you a very speedy recovery and I'll be praying for you!

God bless,
Gabe

[Anthony Silver]

Matt, wishing you a speedy recovery. My prayers are with you.

[Caleb Lawrence]

[Even though I already posted, a more direct response]

Matt,

Best wishes and prayers are with you. I wish you a speedy and thorough recovery. Godspeed you.

[mikegeukes]

Matt, I wish you well and hope you recover completely.

Mike

[Cstok]

Matt,
You may not remeber me, but I sure remebmer you. May 21st 2004 I was heading up towards North East Nebraska. I saw a couple of other chasers off to the side of the road analizing early afternoon data. I decided to pull off and get their thoughts / ideas for the days setup. We chatted a bit, and before to long you pulled up. As I said, I sure remeber you, because you didn't even know me, but you were more than willing to share your knowledge and experience with a rookie like me. Here I was, some goofball from So. Cal, who can barely read a sounding chart, and you were taking the time to help me, and answer all of my questions. You even gave me your email and the scanner frequencies for the DOWs.

The cap broke, and we all took separate ways around the storm. Hadar Nebraska was my first tornado. Later that night at a steak house in Norfolk, I ran into you again and we talked over steaks and beer, sharing our video shots and stories from the days storms and tornado. For me, that never to be forgotten experience (who could forget their first tornado), was not only shaped by the storms themselves, but by the genuine and helpful people along along the way. Thanks for being one of those people.

My prayers are with you, and I'll see you out on the plains this spring!

Craig

[Tim Vasquez]

Thanks all! The card is on its way today.

Tim

[Geoff Boyle]

Here's wishing Matt a speedy recovery and a long eventful chase season thereafter!

Geoff