Max Mayfield, Hurricane Center's chief, is retiring

[Race2Beach]

Since becoming director of the National Hurricane Center in April 2000, Max Mayfield has become for many people in the nation the voice of authority on all things hurricane-related. Today, the center announced that 57-year-old Mayfield is retiring on Jan. 3.

In an interview today, Mayfield told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he's tired. "I'm tired of staying up till midnight, 1 a.m.," he said. "The last two seasons have

taken a toll. It's time to move on."

According to the Miami Herald, Mayfield told his staff this morning that "I've been here 34 years and as Forrest Gump said in the movie, 'I'm tired and I want to go home.' "

Mayfield, the Sun-Sentinel writes, "became a household name for being the calm voice during thousands of television, radio and newspaper interviews during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, when a total of 43 tropical storms, including 24 hurricanes, formed in the Atlantic basin and more than a dozen of those either hit or posed a threat to the U.S. coastline."

He told the newspaper that the most memorable moment of his career was watching Hurricane Katrina take aim at the Gulf Coast last year.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline...yfield_hu.html

[Steve]

Poor guy. Had to stay up late. I can see where that would take a toll and make someone retire.