Loss is the most difficult hurdle to overcome. Voids can’t be repaired. A void is just there. Replacement isn’t an option.
There is just a hole.
Where someone once was.
Admittedly, I don’t deal with loss well. So, this new hole stings.
Tonight, the world lost Alex Herbst. At 26. Twenty. Six.
He was a great young meteorologist just barely scratching the surface of a great career.
We weren’t best friends. I only talked to him more than a handful of times in my life. We met at the Mississippi State Symposium. Conversed via email. Chatted briefly here and there. But that is irrelevant. We interacted on Twitter. And we had a ton of mutual friends.
And most importantly: He was a great human. And the world needs all the great humans we can get.
#IfIWasntAMet I'd probably run for public office. I love helping people and trying to make a difference in my community. And of course fighting for what I believe in. pic.twitter.com/LIjPrsdxQt
— Alex Herbst (@AlexHerbstWX) September 9, 2019
Helping others. That is probably why he got into meteorology. Saving lives and property. Educating people. Making learning fun.
Who wouldn’t want to know a person like this? Someone dedicated to a career of helping others. A person who knew how to help put a smile on someone else’s face. That is what made Alex, Alex.
He was a self-proclaimed “Proud graduate” of Plymouth State and Mississippi State. He was a broadcast meteorologist at KGBT. And the best part, an “Unapologetic Philadelphia sports fan.”
He looked every bit of a Philly Fan, too. I could tell when I looked at him. I never got the chance to razz him about Philly Fans. I regret that. He had the sense of humor that would’ve made that back-and-forth fun.
He was apart of the Awards Committee with the National Weather Association. He was the President of the East Mississippi AMS Chapter while he was at Mississippi State. His professors have told me he was one of the sharpest students in his class. Colleagues raved about his ability to communicate. His work was recently featured in a presentation at the National Weather Association Annual Meeting.
He was gifted. He was engaged. He wrote “thank you” cards. By hand. In 2019.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
The people who knew Alex can’t believe it because great men, like him, don’t happen.
Extremely hard to believe this! @AlexHerbstWX was a classmate of mine at @msstate. Very passionate about science and weather and an amazing leader. Praying for Alex’s coworkers at @kgbt and his close friends and family. https://t.co/nSvPYe7ktl
— Chris Ramirez KSAN (@ChrisRamirezWx) September 12, 2019
@AlexHerbstWX was a good man. So driven and passionate! Been at MSU for 20 years now, and he was easily one of the best students/presidents we ever had. You will be missed! RIP Alex
— GregNordstrom (@GregNordstrom) September 12, 2019
Alex inspired me to be a better meteorologist starting back in school @PlymouthState and it was a joy to watch him doing what he loved. He will be sorely missed
— Colleen Hurley (@colleenhurleywx) September 12, 2019
He left a mark on this school and certainly opened many doors for me during the year our times overlapped at Mississippi State.
He will undoubtedly be missed by myself, and many others.
— Alex Forbes (@AForbesWx) September 12, 2019
In Coelo Quies Est. You will be missed, Alex.
