Alan Shoemaker is joining the abc13 KTRK Houston weather department from KRGV Channel 5 News in the Rio Grande Valley.
UPDATE MAY 2023
Elyse Smith joining abc13 Houston
UPDATE APRIL 2023
Rachel Briers returns to abc13 KTRK after maternity leave
It was a tearful goodbye for the meteorologist who said on the noon newscast that he was leaving for a "potentially temporary job" in Houston TV after 17 years in the Valley (WATCH BELOW).
That "temporary job" will most likely be Shoemaker filling in for meteorologist Rachel Briers who will be going on maternity leave in January 2023.
Turns out Houston is a return city for Shoemaker who received cancer treatment for a battle with acute myeloid leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
KRGV chief meteorologist Tim Smith and other friends organized "Al’s Pals" to help Shoemaker with the cost of treatment. At the time, Smith said Shoemaker was, “probably the funniest guy he’s ever met.” Shoemaker used that humor when he wore Mardi Gras beads during his first round of chemo reported Daniel A. Flores of The Monitor.
Shoemaker was able to ring the bell in the KRGV newsroom after his final chemotherapy session in August 2018.
Best news of the day?
— KRGV Sports (@KRGVSports) August 25, 2018
Our Alan Shoemaker had his final chemotherapy session!
After months of battling leukemia, Alan rang the bell in the newsroom.
He's on his way to being well and we couldn't be happier!#rgv #krgv pic.twitter.com/uGMPZgEpy0
The Mississippi State University grad and Ball State University master's degree earner joined KRGV in August 2005. He previously forecasted the weather for WKOW 27 News Madison, WI and NBC Montana KECI Missoula, MT. He got his TV start at WTVA 9 News Tupelo, MS. According to Shoemaker's KRGV bio, that Tupelo job paid $5 an hour and was a 70 mile commute each way for him.
