Michael G. Redman was a civilian (non-commissioned) employee of the St. Louis County Police Department from 1974 until his untimely, unfortunate, but necessary retirement in July of 2010. He worked in the Bureau of Communications for his entire career. Responsibilities included radio dispatching/training (1974 to 1980), technical management of the radio communications systems, management of the R.A.C.E.S. amateur radio program, and management of the SKYWARN severe weather observation Program (1981 to 2010). Prior to that he worked for two years in the Computer Section, St. Louis City Police Department. Volunteer program involvement began in the late 1960s with the Community Radio Watch program and his development of the first "citizen patrols" in north St. Louis and surrounding areas - using citizens band radio and with the endorsement and cooperation of local law enforcement agencies. Redman taught severe weather observation skills to participants in these volunteer programs while St. Louis Police officer Joseph A. Dunnington taught basic patrol procedures. Michael Redman is a graduate of the Northwest High School and Walbridge Elementary School in St. Louis and has attended St. Louis Community College and the National Radio Institute. He ascended to the position of Captain in the school safety patrol at the Walbridge Elementary School, his entry into law enforcement, and began his writing career in eighth Grade under the direction of C. Bernadette Gibbons. He is a Continuing Education Instructor for the St. Louis Community College, was a Department of Public Safety "P.O.S.T." certified police academy instructor, has completed F.E.M.A.'s "Professional Development" training series, has taught severe weather classes since about 1972, is a former radio publication columnist, a general class amateur radio licensee, and a G.M.R.S. radio licensee. He is also a certified earthquake safety presenter through the Central US Earthquake Consortium and is a frequently consulted local weather historian.

Michael Redman became involved in weather observation and study after the St. Louis 1959 tornado which impacted areas not far from his home. His mother was influential as well, as she was a student at the Riddick Elementary School during the St. Louis 1927 tornado. Redman's interest in radio began in the early 1960s while monitoring the St. Louis Police districts 6/7 on 158.790 Mhz.; the St. Louis Fire Department on 154.130 Mhz.; and his father, a dispatcher for the St. Louis Street Department, on 156.180 Mhz. Redman assisted his father whose hobby involved repair and restoration of radios and televisions, while he studied mail-order classes from the National Radio Institute. He has been studying weather since before another local area weather instructor was born. Michael Redman has several published articles in the area of radio communications, local history, and severe weather observation. He wrote monthly columns for the Radio Communications Monitoring Association from 1977 until 1998. He is a member of the St. Louis and Federal Safety Councils. Through his dynamic leadership the St. Louis County RACES amateur radio program grew from 35 amateur operators in 1981 to 400 participants in 2010, and the St. Louis County SKYWARN severe weather observation program grew from 150 members in 1981 to 2200+ in 2010. Without his leadership, the demise of both County programs is a certainty. Redman has trained over 14,000 individuals in over 400 classes from 1981 to 2010, receiving national recognition and attention. He also managed radio communications operations for the St. Louis County Fair and Air Show from 1995 through 2008.

In his early years in north St. Louis Michael Redman and his family lived close to the Wellston streetcar line and frequented Sherman Park, Sears & Roebuck, and the many stores along Easton Avenue including Friedman Railroad Salvage, Leo Hiken's Union-Easton Drug Store, Plegge's Pet Store, Sparbur's Dry Goods Store, the Kroger store, and the many retail outlets in the Wellston area. His interest in streetcars developed during this time and he continues to study them. Like most with this interest he rode the Hodiamont Line from Wellston to Downtown one week before the line's demise in May of 1966.

From those early years at the Arlington Elementary School, his family moved to Walnut Park and the Walbridge Elementary School, an exemplary institution of quality education. There were no streetcars in Walnut Park, so Redman often rode the Florissant bus downtown or to the Northland Shopping Center, spending many hours (and dollars) at Joe Novak's Radio Shack store - even more so when the Walter Ashe Radio Company, downtown, ceased operations. The Lee bus line provided easy access to the River Roads Shopping Center, frequently visited by Redman and long-time associate, the late Robert J. McGary. Interest in audio-visual equipment began in seventh grade thanks to the assistance of faculty member Lois V. Albers, and continued through high school, and beyond. Now in retirement from St. Louis County several years ahead of schedule, Redman should not be seen (as eluded-to in one publication) as "over-the-hill" and no longer involved in anything. He is not being "phased out" as another weather instructor stated. In retirement, he does not fish or play golf, does not play bingo (yet), is not selling his radios and house, and is not moving into a small compartment in a retirement center. And no, no Geritol, Ensure, or Depends. Through the Traveling Weather Show, with God's help, Redman continues quality severe weather training and related programs as he would have done if not retired (he had no alternative but early retirement, due to department politics). The protection of the public remains his goal, for through quality weather training leading to quality reports, warnings are more accurate and timely, and lives are saved!

Redman has worked with and studied under various weather service meteorologists since the early 1970s including George Brancato, Joe Pedigo, Sue Touzinski, Dennis McCarthy, Bob Hamilton, Guy Tucker, Ron Przybylinski, and James Kramper. Redman is a widower residing in south St. Louis County. His hobbies include radio, weather, classical music, KFUO AM radio, antiques, local history, streetcars, etc. He has two grown daughters who remain employed by St. Louis County. He is a general class amateur radio operator, KA0YXU.

Mike Redman 1969	River Roads Mall display 1971	Mike Redman (home) 1975