BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y. — An eastern Long Island chicken and dairy farmer who reported climate conditions to the National Weather Service for eight decades has died.

The Brockett Funeral Home in Bridgehampton reports Richard Hendrickson died Saturday. He was 103 and died at Westhampton Care Center. No cause of death was announced.

In 2014, the National Weather Service named its 80-year service award in his honor.

Hendrickson is estimated to have tallied more than 150,000 weather observations. His data helped meteorologists analyze impending storms and information that tracks long-term climate change and other trends.

He told of his lifelong interest in nature, weather, and history, in a 2014 interview with The Associated Press.

A funeral service is scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church.

Comments are no longer available on this story