<P> Champion was born in Paducah, Kentucky, to Sylvia and James H. Champion in 1961 . He has one sibling, sister Teresa . His father, who died October 25, 2010, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Vietnam . He graduated from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia in 1979 . He has a B.A. in broadcast news from Eastern Kentucky University, and interned at WKYT - TV in Lexington, Kentucky . </P> <P> Champion worked at WPSD - TV in Paducah, Kentucky, and WJKS (later WCWJ) in Jacksonville, Florida . He became a weather forecaster for WABC - TV's Eyewitness News in New York City in 1988 . He went on Good Morning America at a salary in 2004 of $1.5 million per year . On April 7, 2008 he debuted as host of Sea Rescue, an educational and informational program in Litton's Weekend Adventure that focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and in many instances release of animals back into wildlife . </P> <P> In August 2006, Good Morning America announced Champion would join that show and ABC News, effective September 5, 2006 . Champion announced his departure from ABC on December 2, 2013, to become an on - air presence at and managing editor of The Weather Channel . His last day on Good Morning America was December 4, 2013 He was immediately replaced by Ginger Zee . </P> <P> He had occasionally appeared on Live! with Kelly and Michael, the daily talk show produced by WABC - TV, and CNN's Larry King Live . He often begins his 30 - second weathercasts by saying, "Let's get to the boards ." His catchphrase when breaking for weather reports from local ABC stations is, "That's the weather around the nation . Here's what you can expect this morning ." </P>

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