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'''Albert Martin Bolton, Sr.''', known as '''Al Bolton''' (October 24, 1925 – April 2, 2014), was for forty-seven years a [[television]] or [[radio]] [[meteorologist]] from his adopted city of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. From 1954 to 1991, he was the first weather anchor for KSLA, a [[CBS]] television network affiliate; from 1991 to 2001, he performed the same duties for KRMD [[radio]]. From these positions and his widespread civic activities, Bolton gained wide recognition throughout northwestern Louisiana as well as nearby counties in East Texas and southwestern [[Arkansas]].​

'''Albert Martin Bolton, Sr.''', known as '''Al Bolton''' (October 24, 1925 – April 2, 2014), was for forty-seven years a [[television]] or [[radio]] [[meteorologist]] from his adopted city of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. From 1954 to 1991, he was the first weather anchor for KSLA, a [[CBS]] television network affiliate; from 1991 to 2001, he performed the same duties for KRMD [[radio]]. From these positions and his widespread civic activities, Bolton gained wide recognition throughout northwestern Louisiana as well as nearby counties in East Texas and southwestern [[Arkansas]].​

 

==Family ties==​

==Family ties==​

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Bolton was a son of Roscoe Conkling Bolton and the former Merle Martin.<ref name=roscoe/> His name is derived from a combination of a paternal uncle, Albert Bolton, who died in 1882 shortly after his first birthday, and his mother's maiden name. Roscoe Conkling Bolton was an [[insurance]] agent in Alexandria, who established a company in 1911 that became in 1926 Alexander & Bolton. The firm originally operated in the Rapides Bank Building but acquired its own facility in 1961 on Jackson Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cenlafocus.com/people/roscoe-and-sue-bolton/|title=Holly Jo Linzay, People: Roscoe and Sue Bolton, May 2011|publisher=cenlafocus.com|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Alexander & Bolton operated after 1933 under the supervision of Bolton's older brother, Roscoe A. Bolton (1913–2012). The company was sold in 2008 and became Brown & Brown, Inc. Roscoe A. Bolton was hence an insurance agent for seventy-five years;<ref name=roscoe>{{cite web|url=http://www.hixsonbrothers.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=868208|title=Life Legacy: Roscoe A. Bolton (brother of Al Bolton)|publisher=hixsonbrothers.com|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> in 2008, with seventy-seven years tenure, he was the longest-serving member in the world of [[Rotary International]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120927/NEWS01/209270323/Roscoe-Bolton-Alexandria-world-s-longest-serving-Rotarian-dies-99|title=Billy Gunn, Roscoe Bolton of Alexandria, world's longest serving Rotarian, dies at 99|date=September 27, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Al Bolton also had a second brother, Fender Wade Bolton.<ref name=obit/>​

Bolton was a son of Roscoe Conkling Bolton and the former Merle Martin.<ref name=roscoe/> His name is derived from a combination of a paternal uncle, Albert Bolton, who died in 1882 shortly after his first birthday, and his mother's maiden name. Roscoe Conkling Bolton was an [[insurance]] agent in Alexandria, who established a company in 1911 that became in 1926 Alexander & Bolton. The firm originally operated in the Rapides Bank Building but acquired its own facility in 1961 on Jackson Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cenlafocus.com/people/roscoe-and-sue-bolton/|title=Holly Jo Linzay, People: Roscoe and Sue Bolton, May 2011|publisher=cenlafocus.com|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Alexander & Bolton operated after 1933 under the supervision of Bolton's older brother, Roscoe A. Bolton (1913–2012). The company was sold in 2008 and became Brown & Brown, Inc. Roscoe A. Bolton was hence an insurance agent for seventy-five years;<ref name=roscoe>{{cite web|url=http://www.hixsonbrothers.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=868208|title=Life Legacy: Roscoe A. Bolton (brother of Al Bolton)|publisher=hixsonbrothers.com|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> in 2008, with seventy-seven years tenure, he was the longest-serving member in the world of [[Rotary International]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120927/NEWS01/209270323/Roscoe-Bolton-Alexandria-world-s-longest-serving-Rotarian-dies-99|title=Billy Gunn, Roscoe Bolton of Alexandria, world's longest serving Rotarian, dies at 99|date=September 27, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Al Bolton also had a second brother, Fender Wade Bolton.<ref name=obit/>​

 

Another uncle, James Wade Bolton (1869-1936), was also a banker and school board member. Cousins [[James C. Bolton]] and [[Robert H. Bolton]], sons of James W. Bolton, continued the family banking and civic heritage. Al Bolton graduated in June 1942 from Bolton High School in Alexandria's Garden District. The school is named for his uncle James, who was an 18-year president of the Rapides Parish School Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Bolton, James W.|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=June 14, 2020}}</ref>​

Another uncle, James Wade Bolton (1869-1936), was also a banker and school board member. Cousins [[James C. Bolton]] and [[Robert H. Bolton]], sons of James W. Bolton, continued the family banking and civic heritage. Al Bolton graduated in June 1942 from Bolton High School in Alexandria's Garden District. The school is named for his uncle James, who was an 18-year president of the Rapides Parish School Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Bolton, James Wade|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=June 14, 2020}}</ref>​

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==College and military years==​

==College and military years==​

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After high school, Bolton enrolled at [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and was called to duty while still at Tulane. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations aboard the destroyer, ''USS Hunt.'' After [[World War II]] ended, Bolton returned home. In July 1949, he completed his education at Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], which his brother Roscoe had also attended for a time. During the [[Korean War]], Bolton returned to duty aboard the aircraft carrier, the ''USS Rendova.''​

After high school, Bolton enrolled at [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and was called to duty while still at Tulane. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations aboard the destroyer, ''USS Hunt.'' After [[World War II]] ended, Bolton returned home. In July 1949, he completed his education at Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], which his brother Roscoe had also attended for a time. During the [[Korean War]], Bolton returned to duty aboard the aircraft carrier, the ''USS Rendova.''​<ref name=obit/

 

==Television and radio==​

==Television and radio==​

Bolton did not follow in the tradition of his family's insurance and banking firms but instead relocated to Shreveport in February 1954 to join KSLA-TV, only a month after the station went on the air. He was the on-air meteorologist for thirty-seven years - until August 1991. He then spent another decade as the weather reporter for KRMD radio. His face and voice were known to generations of viewers and listeners.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=albert-martin-bolton&pid=170507233&fhid=6593#sthash.yZO8qxbb.dpuf|title=Albert Martin Bolton|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Early in his tenure at KSLA Bolton hosted ''Al's Corral'', a [[western]]-themed children's program.<ref name=ksla>{{cite web|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/25147692/local-broadcasting-legend-al-bolton-dies-at-88|title=Carolyn Roy, Local broadcasting legend Al Bolton dies at 88, April 2, 2014|publisher=KSLA-TV|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Known for his expertise in [[gardening]], Bolton hosted for several years the weekly segment, "The ArkLaTex Gardener."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktbs.com/story/25149376/local-broadcaster-al-bolton-dies|title=Local broadcaster Al Bolton dies, April 2, 2014|publisher=[[KTBS-TV]]|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref>​

Bolton did not follow in the tradition of his family's insurance and banking firms but instead relocated to Shreveport in February 1954 to join KSLA-TV, only a month after the station went on the air. He was the on-air meteorologist for thirty-seven years - until August 1991. He then spent another decade as the weather reporter for KRMD radio. His face and voice were known to generations of viewers and listeners.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=albert-martin-bolton&pid=170507233&fhid=6593#sthash.yZO8qxbb.dpuf|title=Albert Martin Bolton|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Early in his tenure at KSLA Bolton hosted ''Al's Corral'', a [[western]]-themed children's program.<ref name=ksla>{{cite web|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/25147692/local-broadcasting-legend-al-bolton-dies-at-88|title=Carolyn Roy, Local broadcasting legend Al Bolton dies at 88, April 2, 2014|publisher=KSLA-TV|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Known for his expertise in [[gardening]], Bolton hosted for several years the weekly segment, "The ArkLaTex Gardener."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktbs.com/story/25149376/local-broadcaster-al-bolton-dies|title=Local broadcaster Al Bolton dies, April 2, 2014|publisher=[[KTBS-TV]]|accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref>​

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