Get to Know: TV's David Chandley a Tireless Volunteer

David Chandley never has taken a mission trip like his wife and daughter did to Honduras.

The opportunity simply hasn't arisen for WSB-TV's meteorologist of 23 years, who finds ample chance to volunteer right here in his hometown of Lilburn.

"It's my belief in my Christian walk that your mission is wherever you are," he said. "Certainly, if I'm working with young people, the field is plenty right here. You don't have to go out of the country."

Having raised two daughters during 15 years in Lilburn and nearly a quarter century nearby, Chandley is about as recognizable in the corridors of Parkview High School as its teachers and administrators. Then again, he's just about as prominent in Mountain Park athletics, at his Mountain Park First Baptist Church, and perhaps most as emcee of Lilburn's Christmas Parade the last dozen or so years.

"My schedule is typically all over the place, but it's been that way for 20-plus years," Chandley said. "I don't like sitting still. I need something to do — a project, something to plan for.

"I like to be around people," he added. "It's how I'm wired."

That's fortunate for Lilburn and the Parkview community specifically.

Over the years, Chandley coached his younger daughter Leah's Mountain Park Athletic Association softball team for about 10 years. Now, he helps sharpen the rising senior's Parkview golf game whenever possible. At points between, he was on the athletic association's board of directors and president of Arcado Elementary PTA when his girls were there.

He also was a member of Parkview's Touchdown Club, though he has no son, and even announced football games for four years or so, until work made doing so difficult. Currently, he's treasurer of Parkview's golf booster club.

Parkview football coach Cecil Flowe, a bible study classmate of Chandley's, said the support of his friend of some 18 years has been invaluable.

"[The Chandleys] have been great supporters of all we've done at Parkview," Flowe said. "Just having him has been invaluable to our athletic program and to our school in general."

Parkview track coach and athletics director Mark Whitley, Chandley's church bible study instructor, said the meteorologist is a convenient friend to have.

Sometimes only half seriously, Whitley calls Chandley to get the inside scoop on when spring weather might be optimal for track practice.

"I call him Parkview's personal weather man," Whitley said. "He's a good all-around guy to have involved in your program."

Funnier still, Whitley teases Chandley for often showing up with his studio makeup still on.

"He's the only guy I know who does his own makeup," Whitley joked.

Only when he stops to think about it does Chandley realize how busy he's become between work and making a difference in his community.

Television keeps him churning most weekday mornings beginning around 9, when he's off doing a number of tasks before the weather forecast on the 5 p.m. news. Sometimes, he covers morning and mid-day broadcasts for colleague Karen Minton, evening segments for Glenn Burns and even Brad Nitz on weekends.

When severe weather strikes, he mobilizes with everyone.

"With our four people we have it covered," he said. "I'm just the swing guy."

Chandley has a degree in broadcast journalism from University of Georgia and completed the broadcast meteorology program at Mississippi State. His broadcast career has taken him all over Georgia, with stops in Albany, Macon and Columbus. He has won three Southeast Emmy Awards and has been nominated 11 times. He also has received the Associated Press Best Weather Reporting Award 10 times, including last year.

But in shorts and a T-shirt while coaching softball, Chandley said people might not initially recognize him. It's often his distinctive voice often gives him away.

He hopes people view him as an earthen husband (27 years) and father, the same on the softball field as in a local restaurant or ushering congregations of 2,000-plus at his second church in Atlanta.

And as you might imagine, friends sometimes tease, asking him to look to the sky to predict the weather.

"Whenever we do," Flowe chuckled, "he says he has to check a bunch of charts."

And surprisingly, hard as Chandley tries, he can't think of a single embarrassing moment on the air. Common as mistakes are in live television, he can't recall a major blunder.

"Thank goodness," he said, "I haven't been in anyone's YouTube video."