Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens awarded Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns the city’s highest honor on the day of his retirement.

Burns’ last day as Chief Meteorologist is Tuesday. He will then move into the role of Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Emeritus, returning to the WSB-TV studios for Georgia’s biggest weather events.

On Tuesday, the station sent him off with a visit from his “little sister” in meteorology, former Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Karen Minton and Mayor Dickens.

Dickens bestowed the prestigious Phoenix Award on Burns, who was visibly moved by the honor.

“I had to make sure I could come out here and celebrate you and honor you for 40 years of all the work you’ve done.”

For 40 years, Atlanta has depended on you to tell us about snow storms, tornadoes, rain events, and even me as a child going to Atlanta Public Schools, I depended on you to tell me whether or not I was going to school in the snow,” Dickens said. “...And then I became a parent, and I had to depend on you to tell me whether or not I was taking my daughter to school.”

Dickens says the Phoenix Award is given to people who have done amazing things for the city of Atlanta.

“I tried to do my best each and every day. And I love Atlanta and I love north Georgia and I just want to keep people safe,” Burns said. “That’s been my objective since I got here from day one.”

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